Newcastle City Council election: Locals take to the polls
Newcastle’s Lord Mayor has celebrated her re-election, highlighting the success of her “positive campaign” and promising the city that she won’t let them down. See the latest:
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The local political contests in the Newcastle and Hunter region are some of the most intriguing in the state, with a number of new and familiar faces fighting to lead their communities into the future.
In Newcastle and Lake Macquarie the incumbent mayors appear to be destined to return to the top job on council.
In other areas across the region, incumbent mayors are facing stiff opposition to wear the mayoral robes once more.
See how the local political landscape is shaping up:
‘I WON’T LET YOU DOWN’: NUATALI NELMES RE-ELECTED AS MAYOR
A well-known Novocastrian, incumbent Labor mayor Nuatali Nelmes, has been re-elected in a strong show of support from the community.
When counting stopped on Saturday night, the mum-of-three has polled more than 41 per cent in the popular mayoral vote and took to social media to thank the city.
“Tonight’s result has seen the people of Newcastle strongly support our positive and progressive policies to continue to deliver for our city,” she said.
“Novocastrians have backed our vision for Newcastle, and supported our approach to create and sustain more local jobs while delivering the infrastructure upgrades our community deserves.
“We’ve run a positive campaign on the back of sustainable and deliverable policies that will continue to drive our city forward.
“I’m so thankful that the people of Newcastle have once again given me their trust and support as their Lord Mayor. I won’t let you down, Newcastle.”
Ms Nelmes has previously told The Newcastle News, if re-elected, she would continue to lead on environmental issues, such as introducing organic waste recycling, and promote local jobs.
‘I’M HUMBLED AND HONOURED’: LAKE MACQUARIE MAYOR CELEBRATES WIN
Incumbent Lake Maquarie mayor Kay Fraser has taken to social media to celebrate her return to the top job in a landslide vote.
The Labor politician, who celebrated her 39th wedding anniversary on polling day, thanked her “amazing family” and political supporters for their work during the election campaign.
“I’m humbled and honoured to be voted in as mayor of Lake Macquarie for another term,” she said.
“I’m excited about what the next term will bring, and what we can deliver as a council for our community.”
Ms Fraser had received 53.8 per cent of the mayoral vote when counting ended on Saturday night, with her closest rival Liberal Jason Pauling receiving 21.8 per cent, almost 25,000 votes behind.
Almost half the votes have been counted.
The incumbent mayor told NewsLocal on election day she was hopeful of increasing her vote after receiving support from 45 per cent of voters at the most recent mayoral election.
LABOR SET TO DOMINATE CESSNOCK COUNCIL
In Cessnock, Labor councillor Jay Suvaal is well-placed to win the mayoral race with 42.3 per cent of the vote at the close of counting on Saturday.
Almost 15,000 votes have been counted of the 45,000 registered voters, with Mr Suvaal receiving more than 2000 votes than closest rival, long-serving independent councillor Ian Olsen.
The popularly-voted mayor will replace the retiring Bob Pynsent who did not contest Saturday’s election after more than two decades in local government.
MAITLAND’S INCUMBENT MAYOR IN DANGER
The popular mayor vote for Maitland Council is a two-horse race, with incumbent Labor mayor Loretta Baker being challenged by former experienced independent councillor Philip Penfold.
With almost half of the votes counted, Ms Baker is narrowly ahead of Mr Penfold with 9773 votes (33.16 per cent) to 9407 (33.16 per cent).
Ms Baker, elected as the region’s first female mayor in 2017, told The Newcastle News in the lead up to the election that her track record was strong, pointing to council investment in roads, footpaths, tree planting and sport fields upgrades.
Mr Penfold, a former deputy mayor, vowed to oppose Labor’s fortnightly bin collection and make roads maintenance a high priority.
PORT STEPHENS’ MAYORAL CONTEST IN THE BALANCE
The contest for mayor in Port Stephens it is a close as you can get, with incumbent independent mayor Ryan Palmer marginally ahead with 50.4 per cent of the votes.
Labor candidate Leah Anderson has polled 49.5 per cent of the votes, with almost 23,000 of a possible 57,000 ballots counted.
In the lead up to the election, Mr Palmer said he would be advocating for a boost in funding for major projects and infrastructure, particularly roads, with “unparalleled” support for the region’s vulnerable koalas and natural waterways.
Ms Anderson, who has 33 years experience in the finance industry, has been actively involved in the Port Stephens community for the past 16 years with roles including founder of Port Stephens Women in Business, Business Port Stephens president and Port Stephens Tourism director.
MOORE TIME AT SINGLETON
Incumbent mayor Sue Moore is on track to retain the position for the next term of council, polling 37.6 per cent of the popular mayor vote when voting closed on Saturday night.
The fifth generation Singleton resident has worn the mayoral robes for the past nine years and helped push for funding to design and build the Singleton bypass.
Ms Moore’s closest rivals are Labor’s Tony Jarrett, with 24.37 per cent of the vote, and fellow independent Danny Thompson (24.07 per cent).
Just under 6000 ballots have been counted of the 17,080 registered voters.
EARLIER: Mayoral results show clear front runner in Newcastle
– by Fiona Killman
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes is on track for her third consecutive term in the top job as counting continues into the night.
With almost 38,350 of the 123,000 possible votes counted, Mrs Nelmes continues to dominate the pack with 15,347 votes, followed by independent John Church on 9560 votes, Greens candidate John Mackenzie with 5900 and Liberal candidate Jenny Barrie with 3922 votes.
Independent Rod Holding is next followed by Social Alliance candidate Steve O’Brien.
Meanwhile in Port Stephens it is a close as you can get between the two mayoral candidates. After a dead tie, incumbent mayor Ryan Palmer has crept ahead with 50.4 per cent of the votes while Labor candidate Leah Anderson is on 49.5 per cent. This will be one to watch overnight with almost 23,000 of a possible 57,000 votes counted.
It’s 12 horse race in the Upper Hunter Shire councillor election with three of the incumbent councillors set for another term with more than 4000 votes already counted. Independent Lee Watts is leading the pack with 27 per cent of the votes, followed by Maurice Collison on 19 per cent along with Ron Campbell on 8.7 per cent. Independent Elizabeth Flaherty, keen for her first stint on council, is next in line on 7.5 per cent.
Earlier
Covid has managed to kill all the fun of a local government election and also thrown in challenges for voters.
While sausage sizzles, jumping castles and cake stalls have been cut back, so have the pamphlets many rely on to complete their vote.
One voter left Adamstown Senior Citizens Centre and yelled “I didn’t know what I was doing”.
The Adamstown woman, who did not wish to be named, said she had to ask for help five times to ensure she got her vote correct.
“I usually rely on the pamphlet,” she said. “I don’t have the best memory. My husband had the same problem. Who knows if we voted properly.
“I realise it’s great to save paper but it makes life harder.”
Mayoral candidate Steve O’Brien from the Social Alliance described the changes of the election, due to Covid, as a “big experiment”.
“It’s a bit of speculation on whether people will remember or choose to take photos the posters with QR codes,” he said.
Mr O’Brien spent the day at Newcastle East Public School and said he had enjoyed talking to people. He said there was a lot of pointing involved.
“Normally the candidates are fighting each other giving people bits of paper,” he said.
He said the results would be interesting but was happy to see many of the other candidates looking into the same issues of affordable housing and rental relief.
Polling booths remained steadily throughout the day with candidates out and about voting and meeting punters.
Ward 3 Labor candidate Peta Winney-Baartz and Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes’s husband Stuart Nelmes were at New Lampton South Public School, commenting that “all the fun had been taken out” of a council election with the new rules however they were enjoying talking to locals.
“Many people have commented that they like no pamphlets but it’s been hard for some of the elderly residents,” she said.
“Schools usually use elections as a fundraiser so there’s no opportunities for local P & C’s at all with sausage sizzles or cake stalls.”
Six candidates are vying for the title of Newcastle City Mayor while there are both existing and fresh faces hoping to fill the 12 councillor roles across the four wards.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes is gunning for her third consecutive term as Lord Mayor, having been first elected to the top job in 2014. She took 46 per cent of the vote in the 2017 election along with six Labor councillors, four Independents, one Liberal and one Green.
Ms Nelmes was up early with her team at Waratah and has visited various locations, while independent mayoral candidate John Church was at Cooks Hill casting his vote and talking to voters.
Liberal mayoral candidate Jenny Barrie managed to find what could have been the oldest voter in Newcastle, a man by the name of Pat who was 100 years old.
More to come.
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