Inner West Council election results: Labor secure a majority

Labor has secured a much coveted majority in the second term of Inner West Council as all eyes turn to the mayoral contest and a potential ‘demerger’ of the council.

Voters have delivered Labor a majority in the second term of Inner West Council in a move that all but guarantees Darcy Byrne another stint as mayor.

The NSW Electoral Commission has released the final results from the December 4 election after critical preference votes were distributed.

The final count shows Labor has secured eight of the 15 seats up for grabs – giving the party a working majority in the council chambers over the next three years.

Of the remaining seven seats, the Greens have secured five spots alongside two independents Pauline Lockie and John Stamolis.

Labor secured seats in all five council wards and also picked up three extra seats in the Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marickville wards.

Sitting independent councillor Vic Macri was not so lucky after losing his seat in a close contest for the third seat in the Marrickville ward.

Two sitting Liberal councillors Julie Passas and Vittoria Raciti have also been jettisoned after failing to pick up enough seats in the Ashfield and Leichhardt wards.

Darcy Byrne looks set to become mayor once more

At the previous election, both Labor and the Greens each secured five seats, leaving the balance of power in the hands of two Liberals and three independents.

Labor’s Darcy Byrne, who is today seeking the endorsement of his party to run for the mayoral position, said the Labor majority could see the council move forward in a more positive direction.

“This is the first time in decades that Labor has won an outright majority in the inner west and we are very proud of our new team and the positive, grassroots campaign we have run,” he said.

“With this majority we will have a big responsibility to govern in the interests of all inner west citizens – no matter who you voted for.

“Our team will be focused on the future and we want to work with all elected representatives to make sure the Inner West Council is as good as the people it serves.”

Julie Passas has lost her seat. Picture: David Swift

One of the big issues expected to face elected councillors will be a potential de-amalgamation after 62.5 per cent of voters on polling day supported a demerger.

Despite losing his seat, Mr Macri – who championed reinstating the former Leichhardt, Ashfield and Marrickville councils – believes the new council should follow through on the wishes of voters.

“The people have had their say and the councillors should act on the wishes of the community,” he said.

The Greens have previously announced newly-elected councillor Kobi Shetty as their candidate in the mayoral vote, which will be decided by councillors at a meeting on December 29.

THE RESULTS

Marghanita da Cruz (Greens – Leichhardt)

Philippa Scott (Labor – Leichhardt)

Timothy Stephens (Labor – Leichhardt)

Dylan Griffiths (Greens – Ashfield)

Mark Drury (Labor – Ashfield)

Jessica D’Arienzo (Labor – Ashfield)

Mat Howard (Labor – Marrickville)

Zoi Tsardoulias (Labor – Marrickville)

Justine Langford (Greens – Marrickville)

John Stamolis (independent – Balmain)

Kobi Shetty (Greens – Balmain)

Darcy Byrne (Labor – Balmain)

Pauline Lockie (independent – Stanmore)

Liz Atkins (Greens – Stanmore)

Chloe Smith (Labor – Stanmore)

Darcy’s delight as Labor hopeful of inner west majority

EARLIER

DECEMBER 8, 2021

Counting from election day in the inner west is on track to go down to the wire as all eyes turn to whether Labor can secure the votes to claim an outright majority on Inner West Council.

Current results from Saturday’s local government election show both Labor and the Greens have each secured five of the 15 councillor positions on the council as well as boosting their first preference vote with respective swings of 5 and 6.6 per cent.

Of the five remaining seats, two have been called for sitting councillors and independents Pauline Lockie and John Stamolis.

Three remaining seats are up for grabs in the Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville wards.

Labor’s Darcy Byrne, who leads the total vote in the Balmain ward, is hopeful the party could boost its numbers from five to seven and possibly eight – giving Labor an outright majority on the council.

Marghanita da Cruz, who has been re-elected as the Greens councillor in Leichhardt, has conceded it was unlikely the party would surpass five seats based on current trends.

Greens candidate Kobi Shetty has been elected in Balmain.

Greens candidate Liz Atkins has been elected in Stanmore.

With 63 per cent of the vote counted in the Ashfield ward, Labor’s Mark Drury is ahead of Greens candidate Dylan Griffiths by 400 votes.

If the lead continues, the second Labor candidate on Mr Dury’s ticket – Jessica D’Ariezno, would be elected for the party.

The third seat in Marrickville is a tight contest between and independent Vic Macri and Labor which has already secured one seat in the ward and could gain a second based on its dominant 43 per cent share of the first preference vote.

Marghanita da Cruz has been re-elected for the Greens.

It is also shaping up to be a nailbiting finish in Leichhardt with the current results showing Labor could pick up a second seat with Liberal councillor Vittoria Raciti also in play.

A Labor majority could put an end to the tumultuous first term for the amalgamated council which has seen the balance of power lie with two Liberal councillors and three independents since the last election in 2017.

Mr Byrne said it’s an opportunity for a “calmer, less conflict” based council.

Independent Pauline Lockie.

Independent John Stamolis.

“We are on track to form a Labor-led council. Having put forward a positive policy agenda it’s really gratifying that the community has endorsed that with such a big Labor vote,” he said.

Mr Byrne put himself forward as a Labor mayoral candidate during the campaign and has been critical of other parties for not following suit.

Marghanita da Cruz said the Greens would wait until the counting from Saturday’s poll is done and dusted before determining their candidate.

“We’re still waiting for the ivotes and it depends on council makeup who gets put forward,” she said.

“At this point we’ll wait and see but we’ll be going through negotiations and putting forward a candidate.”

Labor’s Mark Drury said the final makeup of the council would become clearer once ivote results are added to the tally tonight as well the distribution of preferences and informal votes.

Candidates already elected for Labor include sitting councillors Darcy Byrne and Mark Drury along with new councillors Philippa Scott, Mat Howard, Chloe Smith will represent Labor.

Marghanita da Cruz is the sole returning greens councillor with Justine Langford, Liz Atkins, Dylan Griffiths, Kobi Shetty also securing seats for the party.