State Election 2018: Jackson Taylor defeats Heidi Victoria in Bayswater
He campaigned for less than a month, but Knox councillor Jackson Taylor is heading to state parliament after winning the seat of Bayswater.
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Jackson Taylor will be Bayswater’s new MP after claiming victory in the nailbiting fight for the seat.
The VEC declared Labor’s Mr Taylor as the winner yesterday afternoon over Liberal incumbent Heidi Victoria by 296 votes following preference distributions.
The result means Mr Taylor will resign from his roles as a Knox councillor and policeman.
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He had been campaigning as Labor’s candidate for less than a month after he was rushed in to replace fellow Knox councillor Peter Lockwood at the start of November.
In a post on his Facebook campaign page last night, Mr Taylor said he had been given “the opportunity of a lifetime”.
“I also don’t take the gravity of this moment for granted, nor the opportunity provided to me, to be a strong voice and advocate for this wonderful community,” he wrote.
“And I promise you this, even if we cannot always agree, I will listen.
“Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for putting your trust in me.”
Ms Victoria had been Bayswater’s representative since 2006 and had a 4.6 per cent buffer in the seat before the November 24 poll.
Mr Taylor said she had “represented this community with honour and humility” and thanked her for her service.
In a post on her Facebook page, Ms Victoria thanked locals for their “love and kindness” and allowing her to represent them for the past 12 years.
“I leave office knowing that our area is a very different place from when I began on this journey with you all, and I’m proud of all we’ve achieved together,” she wrote.
VEC spokeswoman Marie Guerin said a seat declaration will take place by the end of the week.
Knox Council has been contacted for comment to confirm Mr Taylor’s resignation and the process of finding his replacement.
Meanwhile, Liberal MP Nick Wakeling has held onto the seat of Ferntree Gully and will serve a fourth term in state parliament.
Mr Wakeling, who had a 7.7 per cent margin, prevailed by 1171 votes over Labor candidate Julie Buxton, who received a 6.1 per cent swing.
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