Liberals secure victory in Woollahra Local Government election

The Liberals have hung onto their majority in the local Government election for Woollahra where they secured eight of the 15 seats

Woollahra Mayor Toni Zeltzer was easily re-elected in Double Bay where the Liberals’ former deputy state director Richard Shields also got up. Pic: AAP Image/ Danny Aarons.

The Liberals have retained their majority in the local Government election for Woollahra where they secured eight of the 15 seats.

Susan Wynne and Rose Bay branch president Mary Lou-Jarvis stormed to victory in Vaucluse where the Liberals achieved their best result.

The party secured 58 per cent of the first preference votes in that ward compared to the Residents First’s 28.25 per cent and the Greens’ 13.6 per cent.

Claudia Cullen, of Residents First, picked up the third spot in Vaucluse.

Residents First got a candidate up in each of the five wards while the Greens were set to get two up—in Paddington and Cooper.

Susan Wynne was re-elected in Vaucluse.

Rose Bay Liberal branch president Mary-Lou Jarvis also had a resounding win in Vaucluse.

Liberal Mayor Toni Zeltzer said voters had rewarded the party for staying strong in its fight to prevent Woollahra being amalgamated with Waverley and Randwick.

“I’m thrilled we have been able to maintain a Liberal majority,” Cr Zeltzer said.

“I think our very strong fight to retain our independence was a big factor and people spoke to many of our candidates about that and thanked the Liberal team for holding its ground on that issue.”

Woollahra Mayor Toni Zeltzer casting her ballot at Double Bay Public School. Picture: Mark Coppleson.

Cr Zeltzer said voters had demonstrated their faith in the strong Liberal line up.

“Our successful candidates have a great amount of experience, with three former mayors, a number of deputy mayors and six former councillors and there’s also a number of new faces eager to share their fresh ideas to benefit the community.”

Mark Silcocks from Residents First picked up the third seat in Double Bay.

Residents First’s Luise Elsing was re-elected in Cooper

Cr Zeltzer was re-elected in Double Bay where former Liberal deputy state director Richard Shields also got up.

Mark Silcocks from Residents First picked up the third seat in Double Bay.

Isabelle Shapiro led the charge for the Liberals in Bellevue Hill where young lawyer Nick Maxwell also got elected for the Liberals.

All five of the lead Residents First candidates were elected—Harriet Price in Paddington, Lucinda Regan in Bellevue Hill, Luise Elsing in Cooper, Mark Silcocks in Double Bay and Claudia Cullen in Vaucluse. Picture: John Appleyard

According to the latest count, Lucinda Regan from Residents First had picked up the third spot in Bellevue Hill, which was on a knife edge—at one stage it looked like the Greens could have won it.

Matthew Robertson was easily re-elected for the Greens in Paddington where Peter Cavanagh was re-elected for the Liberals.

Peter Cavanagh was re-elected for the Liberals.

Residents First’s Harriet Price, sister of Studio Ten host Jessica Rowe, secured the third spot in Paddington.

“I had a ten per cent increase in my primary vote in Paddington so I feel I have been recognised for the work I have done in local community,” Cr Robertson said.

“I was at the Five Ways booth where I felt I received a more positive response than I did last time so I am very pleased to have received that endorsement from the Paddington community.”

Megan McEwin was on the cusp of being elected for the Greens in Cooper where Anthony Marano was re-elected for the Liberals and Luise Elsing was re-elected for Residents First.

Liberal Anthony Marano was re-elected in Cooper. Picture: John Appleyard

Former mayor Isabelle Shapiro led the charge for the Liberals in Bellevue Hill.

The Residents First and Greens would have done better if the Liberal State Government had pushed ahead with the forced eastern suburbs merger.

Even dyed-in-the-wool Liberal voters had been threatening to abandon the Liberals if the Party pushed ahead with the controversial policy.

The Greens and Residents First needed to get a candidate up each in Bellevue Hill in order to wrest the majority away from the Liberals.

Matthew Robertson looks set to be re-elected in Paddington for the Greens. Picture: Craig Wilson

Mary-Lou Jarvis, who had a resounding victory in Vaucluse, said she was “very happy’ with the result.

“The Liberals did the best in Vaucluse out of all the wards,” she said.

“I’m very grateful to the people of Vaucluse who have put their faith in me, given I’m a new councillor to Woollahra.

“I’m looking forward to working with the new council.”

Click here to see the results.