Political analyst sees no clear favourite in race for city’s new lord mayor

LEFT and right leanings muddy the waters for lord mayoral favourites, reports JIM ALOUAT.

Alderman and lord mayor candidate Damon Thomas, centre, with fellow HCC candidates Alderman Tanya Denison, left, and Zelinda Sherlock. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

ANNA Reynolds and Damon Thomas remain favourites to win the race to be Hobart’s next lord mayor, but political analyst Kevin Bonham says it is still anyone’s game.

As of Monday evening, 57 per cent of Hobart voters had returned their ballot papers, easing past the state average of 55 per cent and well ahead of the paltry 51 per cent turnout in 2014.

Dr Bonham said Ald Reynolds was the standout left-leaning candidate of the 11 people campaigning to be lord mayor.

“She is also a Greens-to-independent candidate, and they tend to do well,” he said.

“On the other side, it’s hard to tell if Alderman Thomas is really ahead of the pack or not.

“I still think they are probably the leading two.”

MORE ON COUNCIL ELECTIONS

LOW RETURN MAY HELP INCUMBENT

MAYOR NOT IMPRESSED BY CONTEST

CITY BOSSES LET THEIR RECORDS DO THE TALKING

LAST CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SAY

Alderman Anna Reynolds is one of the two favourite candidates for lord mayor.. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Alderman Jeff Briscoe remained an outside chance, Dr Bonham said.

“Ald Briscoe is interesting because if he can get into the final two he could win but he will need to get enough votes to get over either the leading left candidate or the leading right candidate, and I’m not convinced he will have enough votes,” he said.

HICKEY AT ODDS WITH GUTWEIN OVER COMPULSORY VOTING

Dr Bonham believes that Greens mayoral candidate Ald Bill Harvey and Ald Reynolds will do well in first preference votes.

Alderman Jeff Briscoe is considered a possibility to win the top role. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“Because there are fewer left-wing candidates running they will get a fair slab of the left vote,” he said.

Ald Reynolds said she was satisfied her campaign had resonated with people.

“My slogan was a leadership for a sustainable, caring and creative Hobart,” she said.

“I’m hoping Hobartians are ready for change.”

Ald Thomas, who led the Liveable Hobart Group ticket, said he was comfortable with the effort the team had made.

“I’m glad we were able to create realistic strategies,” he said. “It’s not just a cable car but about addressing those issues like transport, housing and rates affordability for pensioners.”

There will be at least three new aldermen on the Hobart City Council, with aldermen Eva Ruzicka and Philip Cocker not recontesting their seats and former lord mayor Sue Hickey’s seat not filled.

Candidate Yongbei Tang.

Dr Bonham said two-thirds of the 36 candidates had a shot at winning the three open seats and he felt most of the incumbents were likely to retain their positions.

“It will be interesting to see how Yongbei Tang does because of the attacks from the Greens,” he said. “Ms Tang had massive publicity because of the attacks and there may be a sympathy vote for her.”

Ms Tang has repeatedly denied any connections with the Chinese Communist Party and expressed her love for Australian values.

MORE:

YONGBEI TANG HITS BACK AT CHINA ’FEAR’

LETTER VOICES CONCERN AT HCC CANDIDATE

CHINESE BID TO ‘NAIL’ TASMANIAN POLITICS

HCC CANDIDATE’S CHINA CONNECTION ALARM