Council elections: results for Willoughby, Ku-ring-gai and Lane Cove

GAIL Giles-Gidney is thankful to the Willoughby community for re-electing her as mayor for another term as votes are counted in Ku-ring-gai and Lane Cove.

Willoughby mayoral candidates Gail Giles-Gidney and Angelo Rozos in Chatswood. Pic: AAP Image/ Julian Andrews.

GAIL Giles-Gidney is delighted and thankful to the Willoughby community for re-electing her as mayor for another term.

At the end of counting last night, Ms Giles Giles-Gidney was still ahead of her only opponent Angelo Rozos with 69.02 per cent of the vote.

This morning, she said she was pleased with the results.

“The team worked hard and I’m pleased to be supported by so many members of the community,” she said.

“Angelo worked hard on his campaign and had some good support, but on the day I was more fortunate to get the results I did.”

Willoughby Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney out the front of Willoughby Council offices.

Ms Giles-Gidney, who cast her vote at Willoughby Park Centre yesterday, said she looked forward to working with the new council.

“I think we’ve got four new councillors who have been elected,” she said.

“There’s still one uncertain spot.

“Everyone worked really hard, we have a great council to take into the next term.”

The Willoughby ballot was the only mayoral vote on the upper north shore. Residents in Ku-ring-gai and Lane Cove were just asked to vote for their ward councillors.

Candidate Greg Cooke at Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers for the Local Government Election. Pic: AAP Image/ Jeremy Piper

In Ku-ring-gai, two councillors will be elected for each of the four wards.

As counts progressed, Jeff Pettett surged ahead in Comenarra Ward with 54.66 per cent of the vote; Cheryl Szatow pushed ahead of Peter Kelly in Gordon on 35.56 per cent; in St Ives, the vote remains extremely tight, with David Citer on 35.65 per cent and Martin Smith on 35.22 per cent; while Donna Greenfield remains ahead in Wahroonga on 48.41 per cent.

In Lane Cove, residents were electing three councillors for each of the three wards.

In Central Ward, Deborah Hutchens and the Liberals continue to dominate with 40.23 per cent of the vote; Pam Palmer’s group continues to lead in East Ward on 39.81 per cent; and Scott Bennison is ahead in West Ward with 39.33 per cent.

Lane Cove Mayor Deborah Hutchens.

In Willoughby, where three councillors will be elected to four wards, Tony Mustaca’s group has pushed ahead with 30.56 per cent of the vote in West Ward. The Greens have fallen back to third with 23.41 per cent, behind Craig Campbell’s group, which has 26.01 per cent.

In Middle Harbour, Angelo Rozos’ group leads with 42.95 per cent; Stuart Coppock is currently ahead in Naremburn, while Gail Giles-Gidney’s group leads in Sailors Bay on 65.05 per cent.

Voting will continue throughout the night, while the distribution of preferences cannot begin until after 6pm on Monday, to ensure all postal votes are included.