Carolyn Corrigan to become new Mosman mayor

Independent Carolyn Corrigan took an early lead in a bid to become the new mayor of Mosman Council.

Carolyn Corrigan is set to become the new Mosman mayor. Picture: Adam Ward

• Mosman mayor retires after 13 years of service
• Lower north shore mayoral candidates announced

LATEST: Carolyn Corrigan has declared victory in the Mosman Council mayoral elections.

She announced her win via social media on Sunday, stating that she was thrilled to have won 39.4 per cent of first preference votes.

“I am humbled to have the support of so many ... I also received a call from Roy Bendall, who conceded defeat, and I am very appreciative of his support,” Councillor Corrigan said.

“I am also optimistic, I will be joined by two members of our Serving Mosman team on council, Tom Sherlock and David Cook.

Councillor Corrigan talking to voters at Mosman High School on election day. Picture: Ryan Osland

“As the numbers come in, I will keep you informed. To my colleagues, Tom, David, Heather and Nicky, thank you for your passion, commitment and support.

“I would also like to thank Peter Abelson for his outstanding contribution and service to Mosman.

“As Peter retires, his invaluable leadership and mentorship will be sorely missed — which I have found so invaluable.

“And finally to you the people of Mosman, who have shown your trust in us — thank you.”

Voters casting their ballots at Mosman High.

EARLIER: Carolyn Corrigan took the lead in the race to become the new mayor of Mosman Council, according to early results published by the NSW Electoral Commission.

Initial first preference vote counting gave the Mosman councillor and anti-amalgamations campaigner 41.4 per cent of the vote, ahead of Roy Bendall on 26.8 per cent, Simon Menzies on 19.78 per cent and Libby Moline on 12.02 per cent.

If successful, Cr Corrigan, who ran on the Serving Mosman ticket, would replace Mosman’s previous mayor, Peter Abelson, who retired and had endorsed Cr Corrigan to be his successor.

The first preference votes of six of seven polling booths in Mosman had been counted as at 9.30pm on Saturday.

Cr Corrigan was first elected to Mosman Council in 2012 on Peter Abelson’s Serving Mosman ticket and was Deputy Mayor from 2015 to 2016.

Retiring Mosman mayor Peter Abelson.

Cr Corrigan most recently ran as an independent candidate in this year’s North Shore by-election and finished a close second.

She is a co-founder and past president of Save Our Councils Coalition and a member of Mosman Against Forced Amalgamation.

Voting crowds at Mosman High School.

She campaigned for a community led-independent council, promotion of a village environment and for public land to remain in public hands.

On Sunday, the mayoral ballot papers will be checked and counted again at the Returning Officer’s office to ensure accuracy of the first preference counts of all polling place ballot papers. Other vote types — for example, pre-poll, postal, declared institutions, enrolment and other special vote categories- will be check counted as well.

Follow the live results for Mosman here: www.votensw.info/mosman

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