Glenorchy mayor elected to Upper House seat of Elwick

Glenorchy mayor, Bec Thomas, has claimed the Upper House seat of Elwick, previously claimed by Labor. See the final result in Elwick, Prosser and Hobart.

Bec Thomas Mayor of Glenorchy City Council has claimed the Upper House seat of Elwick. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Labor has lost its hold on the Upper House seat of Elwick, after Glenorchy mayor Bec Thomas was elected over Tessa McLaughlin on Tuesday.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission began excluding candidates before noon, distributing the preferences of Fabiano Cangelosi and Janet Shelley.

Ms Thomas, who ran as an independent, was elected, with 53.34 per cent of votes.

Ms McLaughlin was left with 46.66 per cent of the final count, more than 1000 votes behind Ms Thomas, who received the larger share of preferences from Mr Cangelosi’s exclusion.

Labor candidate for Elwick Tessa McLaughlin. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Thomas said she was looking forward to representing the people of Elwick as an independent MLC.

“I was born, raised and continue to work in this community. I know its challenges and its many attributes,” she said.

“I will continue to work hard and collaborate with all members of parliament to ensure at every opportunity, the electorate of Elwick is best served.

“I thank the people of Elwick for its trust and look forward to serving them to the best of my ability.”

Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas. Picture: Linda Higginson

Elwick was previously held by Labor’s Josh Willie, who vacated it when he won a seat in Clark in the House of Assembly at the state election in March.

Mr Willie had been the member for Elwick for eight years, after he took it from Adriana Taylor in 2016.

Ms Thomas’ election to the Upper House means a by-election will be held to fill her soon-to-be vacant mayoral seat on the Glenorchy City Council.

It will be the third contest for Glenorchy mayor in as little as three years.

Glenorchy won’t be the only council in need of a new mayor, a by-election will also be held in Sorell, after Liberal candidate Kerry Vincent claimed Prosser over Labor’s stalwart Bryan Green.

Mr Vincent won with 52.93 per cent of votes after the exclusion of former UTAS Professor Pam Sharpe.

Prosser Liberal candidate Kerry Vincent at Sorell. Picture: Chris Kidd

Prosser was made vacant after Jane Howlett was elected to the House of Assembly in Lyons.

The race for Hobart also wrapped up, with former Greens leader Cassy O’Connor staying the course for a comfortable win with 59.67 per cent of the vote.

Hobart City councillor and prominent Hobart businessman, John Kelly had the second highest number of voted in the Hobart contest.

Ms O’Connor replaces long running member Rob Valentine, who is retiring.

Originally published as Glenorchy mayor elected to Upper House seat of Elwick