Analysis: Is Liberal candidate James Owen Tweed Shire Council’s next mayor?

As a result of Saturday’s polling in the NSW Local Government elections, one Tweed councillor is leagues ahead of his constituents for a seat in chambers. Could he be the shire’s next mayor?

Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry, Councillor James Owen. Pictures: Supplied.

Tweed Shire Council Liberal candidate James Owen has outshone competition – including council’s current mayor Chris Cherry – in Saturday’s polling in the NSW Local Government elections, holding almost one-third of the total vote.

This puts Mr Owen – who has been on council for eight years – in a prime position for a seat on the most northern NSW council for his third term.

Early Saturday night, Ms Cherry and Mr Owen were neck and neck with 19.24 and 19.83 per cent of the total vote respectively. But a landslide result from big polling booths in Casuarina and Pottsville put Mr Owen firmly in the lead with a solid 29.62 per cent of the vote.

As of Wednesday, Ms Cherry held 14.13 per cent of the vote, beaten by Labor councillor Reece Byrnes who had 15.08 per cent of the total vote.

James Owen has proved popular with the Tweed community. Picture: Supplied

In this election, seven Tweed councillors are to be elected from a pool of 45 candidates.

NSW Electoral Commission tally data shows Ms Cherry, Mr Byrnes, current deputy mayor Meredith Dennis, Greens candidate Nola Firth and first-time candidate Kimberly Hone are set to secure a spot in the council.

Mr Owen’s fellow Liberal candidate and current sitting councillor Rhiannon Brinsmead is likely to be re-elected for her second term.

However, it is still unclear whether Mr Owen will be the newly elected mayor – given the vote is decided by sitting councillors at extraordinary meetings, rather than a public vote. Mr Owen will need four votes to land the title.

Last year, Mr Owen argued during a council meeting – and in interviews – that Tweed residents should elect mayors, rather than the internal process.

He said the current process was “not democratic or fair”, however, of 128 local councils in NSW less than 40 have publicly elected mayors.

Tweed Shire Council candidates in 2024. Picture: Supplied.

Contacted by NewsLocal on Wednesday, Mr Owen said he was “thrilled” with the results, but said “there is still some way to go before it is final”.

“The results are a great testament to the local community who have shown their faith is us and recognise the hard work we have undertaken in the lead-up to this election,” he said.

Mr Owen said he won an extraordinary 18 out of 27 polling booths, every pre-poll booth, a significant volume of postal votes and votes from declared institutions such as nursing homes.

Current Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry at the Banora Point High School polling booth on Saturday. Picture: Sam Stolz

“We have fought and delivered for the community and I couldn’t be happier,” he said.

When he was asked about his chances of becoming mayor down the line, Mr Owen said: “I hope council will have just as much faith in me leading the shire as the community has in this election.”

“Whether my fellow councillors will agree I just don’t know. But I’m hoping to engage in these important discussions in the following weeks,” he said.

Final results for the new Tweed Shire Council are expected to be declared between October 1 and 3, with postal votes continuing to be accepted until 6pm on Friday, September 27.

Once results are declared, an extraordinary meeting of the new council will be held on Tuesday October, 10 for councillors to take the oath or affirmation of office and elect the mayor and deputy mayor.

Councillors will also undertake an induction program designed to prepare them for their roles during the four-year term.

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Originally published as Analysis: Is Liberal candidate James Owen Tweed Shire Council’s next mayor?