Reece, Koutoufides ahead in lord mayoral race after the counting of tens of thousands of ballots

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood has conceded defeat in the race for the city’s top job, as Lord Mayor Nick Reece pulls ahead — but Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides is hot on his heels.

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood has bowed out of the race for the city’s top job, declaring he will not run for Melbourne lord mayor again after suffering two election defeats in a row.

Mr Wood was for months considered one of the frontrunners in the race, but has only managed to record a primary vote of about 10 per cent, according to early results.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece is ahead on 24.3 per cent after the counting of 63,000 ballots, but Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides (13.8 per cent) could claim victory in the final quarter of the high-stakes election following the distribution of preferences.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece (left) and Arron Wood at the VCCI lord mayoral breakfast forum at Crown. Picture: Jessica Hooper

Mr Wood’s running mate and entrepreneur Erin Deering spoke through tears on Tuesday, telling her Instagram followers their result was a “real shock”.

In an Instagram post, Mr Wood said: “Unfortunately, the counting shows the City of Melbourne election isn’t going to be won by Team Wood.

“We threw everything at it and I’m proud of the positive plan we put forward for Melbourne.

“Ultimately, though, it is Melbourne voters who decide and I respect their decision.

“After eight years of civic leadership for Melbourne previously and putting my hand up again for this election, I won’t be contesting again in the future and wish the next Melbourne Lord Mayor and all councillors well for the big job ahead.”

Arron Wood and his running mate, Erin Deering. Picture: Kit Edwards

Mr Wood, who served as a councillor and deputy lord mayor from 2012 to 2020, was also defeated at the last council election, finishing second to former lord mayor Sally Capp and Mr Reece.

Ms Deering, who founded cult swimsuit brand Triangl more than 10 years ago and has recently launched her own fashion label, admitted that she “probably … thought maybe we were going to win”.

“I’m devastated for Arron. I also just feel like we were going to do great things for Melbourne. I’m really devastated for Melbourne,” she said in an Instagram story.

“I think we ran a really great campaign.”

She added: “I’m definitely not made for politics because you do not cry in politics.”

Mr Wood’s campaign was dealt a blow after the Liberal Party endorsed a lord mayoral candidate for the first time in the party’s history, which saw him lose votes that would have flowed his way in 2020.

Mr Wood and Ms Deering were considered frontrunners. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Early results obtained by the Herald Sun show Mr Reece, who became Lord Mayor in July after Sally Capp stepped down, has recorded a primary vote of 24.3 per cent which, with preferences, could be enough to secure him and running mate Roshena Campbell a four-year term.

The Liberal ticket headed by business consultant Mariam Riza has also made a surprisingly strong showing with 14.6 per cent of the primary vote.

However, Koutoufides remains Mr Reece’s greatest threat on 13.8 per cent as the former Blue stands to benefit from the strong showing by the Liberals, who preferenced Team Kouta ahead of Team Reece on their how-to-vote cards.

Mariam Riza.

The Greens’ vote has slipped almost five percentage points from their 2020 figure of 16.7 per cent, while Labor (6.6 per cent) and sitting councillor Jamal Hakim (3.8 per cent) have also polled below expectations.

But businessman Gary Morgan improved on his 2020 showing to record 5 per cent.

A Team Reece spokesman said: “We are pleased that our primary vote is well ahead of any others in a Melbourne Cup field of candidates.

“However, this race will come down to preferences. There is still a long way to go.”

A Team Kouta spokesman said it was “encouraged by the early results”.

“But it’s still the first quarter and there’s lots to play out,” he said.

By 5.30pm on Monday, more than 63,000 primary votes for lord mayor and deputy lord mayor were tallied by VEC officials, overseen by scrutineers from each ticket.

According to the VEC, 136,563 voters are on the roll in the City of Melbourne.

In 2020, more than 90,000 ballots were returned from across the municipality.

Mr Reece and Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides at a Carlton game at the MCG in August. Picture: Instagram

In the separate ballot for the nine councillor positions, the Liberals could secure two spots on the new-look council – the Victorian Liberals’ former state treasurer Owen Guest and Chinese language teacher You Li Liston.

Mr Guest said the Liberals’ result demonstrated the anti-Labor sentiment sweeping the country.

“It bodes well for the Liberal Party’s prospects at the next state election,” he said.

“People are demanding good governance which has been lost over many years in Melbourne and Victoria.”

Labor’s lord mayoral candidate Phil Reed said the drop in the party’s vote did not come as a surprise.

“My dance card was marked for defeat the minute the Voices for Melbourne and Team Hakim interests decided to preference the Greens over Labor, so the result is not wholly unexpected,” he said.

“We are comfortable that we put forward a strong agenda, but we were outgunned by the electoral system and the level of fundraising by some to win a seat on council.’’

Anthony Koutoufides. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Team Reece could also score two councillors with veteran councillor Kevin Louey a certainty and Queen Victoria Market trader Mark Scott a strong chance too.

Gladys Liu, a former federal Liberal MP who ran for Team Kouta, is also set to return to public office.

Labor’s Davydd Griffiths has recorded a poor result and his tenure as councillor could be over in a disappointing result for the party, but the Greens’ Olivia Ball is set to return.

Residents 3000 president Rafael Camillo, who ran on Mr Morgan’s ticket, could also secure a position.

Tens of thousands of ballots posted on Thursday and Friday remain en route to the VEC and can be received and accepted until Friday.

The official result will be published by the VEC on November 7.