Local election: The count so far for Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly
The new councillors for Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly have almost been decided, with all preferential votes from yesterday’s local government election now counted.
Macarthur
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The surge to Labor has continued at yesterday’s Campbelltown Council election with the ALP
likely to claim seven of the 15 seats.
The swing to the ALP follows Campbelltown state Labor MP Greg Warren snatching the seat back from the Liberals in 2015 and Macarthur federal labor MP Mike Freelander’s landslide win in July.
Campbelltown returning officer Andrew Bzadough said seats for Campbelltown council were not yet finalised, but Labor councillors George Brticevic, former mayor and long-serving veteran Meg Oates and Darcy Lound appeared to have been easily returned in the poll.
Cr Brticevic is expected to serve as mayor for at least two of the next four years.
New Labor faces could include Margaret Chivers, Rey Manoto, Masood Chowdhury and
Karen Hunt.
With almost 60,000 votes counted last night, the ALP had claimed around 43.59 per cent of the vote.
The Liberal Party are expected to have at least three seats on the new council, with liberal councillors George Greiss, Ted Rowell and John Chew ahead in the polls.
Independent councillors Paul Lake and Fred Borg are also standout candidates, taking out 0.22% and 0.42% of under the line votes respectively.
The Greens Ben Moroney is likely to claim a seat with independent councillor Bon Thompson and Christian Democrats candidate John Ramsay in a battle for the final council position.
Paul Lake said it was rewarding to see Independent’s pick up more votes than they did four years ago.
“I’m very pleased and would like to thank the community for their votes,” he said. “I’d just like to say that the Independent’s went fairly well, especially in comparison to four years ago.
“My second Josh Cotter did a great job and although we’d have to be really lucky to get him in I know he would be a valuable asset to the community as a young person and is keen to run again next time.”
The Chronicle has contacted George Brticevic who was unable to make a comment today. He is expected to make a comment tomorrow.
In Camden, Labor looks likely to pick up three seats while Liberals are expected to pick up four.
Lara Symkowiak said she was pleased to see she would likely have a seat beside Michael Morrison.
I’m pleased that so many people have got faith in what I have done on council over the past four years,” she said. “For me personally I’m really happy with how we did in north ward, it’s looking like myself and Michael Morrison will be elected and I’m really happy for Michael.
I think we’ve really bucked the trend if you look at the elections across Sydney in having four Liberal councillors elected. It’s been a good result for us.
“I’m excited about a new council and a fresh term and I’m positive about the future for Camden Council”
Cindy Cagney said the votes were extremely close between some councillors, and hoped the final results were in Labor’s favour.
“”I’m very encouraged that people have entrusted me with their vote,” she said. “I’m hoping we will no longer have a Liberal voting block but that still remains to be seen.
“I’m looking forward to spending the next four years serving and working with the community.”
In Wollondilly, former mayor Simon Landow took out more than 40% of votes in North Ward and will likely be joined by his second Matt Gould.
Judy Hanan, Ray Law and Michael Banasik look set to return for this term, while a swing towards new frontrunners Robert Khan, Blair Briggs and Matt Gould will likely see Hilton Gibbs and Col Mitchel replaced.
Michael Banasik said that although there was an obvious swing towards new candidates he was pleased with the results.
“I’m pretty happy with it; I had a bit of a swing against me but that’s fine and I’m looking forward to working with some fresh faces,” he said.
“The community is clearly concerned about roads and I’ve never seen it so competitive in my 21 years at council.
“East ward could really still go either way.”
Wollondilly voters also participated in a referendum to decide if they would choose their own mayor at the next election in 2020, with 65.80% of residents in favour of the change.
For each of the three councils, approximately 85% of informal and other votes still need to be counted before final results are announced.
Here are the top candidates for each ward as of Sunday:
Campbelltown
Labor: 43.59%
Liberal: 16.51%
Totally Committed Party: 9.26%
Community First Team: 8.31%
Bob Thompson’s independent Team: 4.93%
The Greens: 4.92%
Christian Democratic Party: 3.91%
Community Service “Environment”: 2.80%
Liberal Democrats: 2.23%
Paul Blyton: 1.58%
Nea Makowski: 0.93%
Piotr Kotarski: 0.05%
Camden Central Ward
1. Scott Metcalfe group 37.61%, Robert Mills 27.08%
2. Liberal, Therese Fideli: 23.76%
3. Labor, Ashleigh Cagney: 23.18%
Camden South Ward
1. Labor, Paul Farrow: 24.43%
2. Liberal, Sidgreaves: 23.31%
3. Eva Campbell: 22.18%
Camden North Ward
Liberal: 52.08%
Labor: 28.80%
1. Liberal, Lara Symkowiak
2. Labor, Cindy Cagney
3. Liberal, Michael Morrison
Wollondilly Central Ward
1. Robert Khan: 26.92%
2. Blair Briggs: 18.42%
3. Michael Banasik: 17.05%
Wollondilly North Ward
1. Simon Landow: 40.37%
2. Judy Hannan: 20.89%
3. Hilton Gibbs: 12.30%
Wollondilly East Ward
1. Mathew Deeth: 35.75%
2. Ray Law: 21.95%
3. Noel Lowry: 15.88%
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