Groote regional council election results show Gordon Walsh in lead despite low voter turnout

Less than a hundred votes were cast in the Groote Archipelago Regional Council election, leaving the final results hanging in the balance as postal votes continue to arrive. See who’s ahead.

Groote Archipelago Regional Council Central Ward candidates: (L-R) Gordon Walsh, Leonard Amagula, Rosalie Lalara, Gregson Lalara and Fabian Lalara.

Less than a hundred votes were received in the Groote council election, meaning it will likely be days before the results are confirmed as postal votes continue to trickle in.

Gordon Walsh has emerged as a strong frontrunner, receiving almost half of the votes cast for the Groote Archipelago Regional Council.

However with 16 declaration votes still to be assessed and 23 postal votes to be returned, the three available positions could go to any of the five candidates.

Three councillor positions are in contest for Central Ward, where 724 residents are enrolled to vote.

Only 12.8 per cent turned out; with 93 votes cast, seven of which were informal, meaning.

At close of counting on Saturday Gordon Walsh had received 46.5 per cent of votes (40 votes), Fabian Lalara 27.9 per cent (24 votes), Gregson Lalara 12.8 per cent (11 votes), Rosalie Lalara 10.5 per cent (nine votes), and Leonard Amagula 2.3 per cent (two votes).

The deadline for receipt of postal votes is midday March 28.

Initial counts of first preference votes for declaration and postal votes will occur soon after, with a final declaration of results expected that day.

No elections were held for Groote’s East and West Wards, as the number of candidates was not more than the number of spots in contest.

West Ward will be represented by Violet Huddlestone and Kieranson Wurramara, while East Ward will be represented by Mildred Mamarika and Constantine Mamarika.

Originally published as Groote regional council election results show Gordon Walsh in lead despite low voter turnout