Reece, Koutoufides ahead in lord mayoral race while Wood, the Greens well behind, according to early analysis
Nick Reece is ahead in the race for the city’s top job, according to an early analysis of thousands of ballots, with Carlton great Koutoufides emerging as his greatest challenger.
Victoria
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Nick Reece has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the race for lord mayor after tens of thousands of ballots were sorted over the weekend in the high-stakes council election, while his expected main rival Arron Wood has polled poorly.
Early analysis from scrutineers has shown that Mr Reece, who succeeded Sally Capp in July, has recorded a primary vote of about 23 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 made a surprisingly strong showing with about 16 per cent, even ahead of Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides on 13 to 14 per cent.
The preliminary figures – formulated on Sunday and obtained by the Herald Sun – also show Mr Wood, a former deputy lord mayor, with only 11 per cent of the primary vote, while the Greens’ vote has slipped almost six percentage points from their 2020 figure of 16 per cent.
Labor (7 per cent) and sitting councillor Jamal Hakim (less than 3 per cent) have also polled below expectations.
However, the allocation of preferences will be key and is expected to significantly influence the final result as official counting by the Victorian Electoral Commission starts from today.
Koutoufides has emerged as Mr Reece’s greatest threat as he stands to benefit from the strong showing by the Liberals, with the Liberals preferencing Team Kouta ahead of Team Reece on their how-to-vote cards.
Over the weekend, more than 60,000 ballots were emptied from their envelopes and sorted by VEC officials, overseen by scrutineers from each ticket.
Tens of thousands of ballots posted on Thursday and Friday remain en route to the VEC and can be received and accepted until Friday.
According to the VEC, there are 136,563 voters on the roll in the City of Melbourne.
In 2020, more than 90,000 ballots were returned from across the municipality.
In the separate ballot for the nine councillor positions, the Liberals have polled well and could secure two spots on the new-look council – the Victorian Liberals’ former state treasurer Owen Guest and Chinese language teacher You Li Liston.
Gladys Liu, a former federal Liberal MP who ran for Team Kouta, is also set to return to public office.
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.
Residents 3000 president Rafael Camillo, who ran on veteran businessman Gary Morgan’s ticket, could also secure a position.
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 likely to be returned.
The official results are not expected to be declared for several days.
Originally published as Reece, Koutoufides ahead in lord mayoral race while Wood, the Greens well behind, according to early analysis
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