Clarence Valley Local Government Elections Vote Tally: state of play at 10.30pm 11 September 2016

The 10 September 2016 Clarence Valley Local Government  Election is commencing its third day of ballot counting and one thing is quite clear – a significant number of voters have withdrawn first preference support for five of the eight incumbent councillors seeking re-election.

Although it should be noted that one incumbent having been elected unopposed at a 2015 by-election has no 2012 voting figure with which to make a comparison. Indeed, based on his 2016 vote tally so far, it is doubtful if in a contested by-election he would have won at all.

The most striking first preference vote losses are those of the incumbent mayor, Richie Williamson, who sees his 2016 first preference vote tally to date only reach 53.35% of his 2012 tally - an almost 47% reduction - and incumbent councillor Sue Hughes whose current first preference vote only reaches 55.61% of her 2012 tally.

Only two incumbent councillors, Karen Toms and Jim Simmons, have increased their first preference vote tally so far.

So while it appears that between five and six incumbent councillors will be returned for the next four years, most will have to lift their game if they are to win back an increasingly disenchanted electorate.

At this stage it also seems that between three and four candidates will become Clarence Valley councillors for a first time, with all having strong connections within community.

The electoral state of play* at 12.15am on Monday 12 September looks like this…….

First 9 candidates in order of first preference votes received:

Richie Williamson (9,223) (4,921), Andrew Baker (3,075) (2,888), Karen Toms (1,252) (2,294), Debrah Novak (2,023), Jim Simmons (1,668) (1,971), Peter Ellem (1,946), Jason Kingsley (2,145) (1,954), Greg Clancy (1,275) (1,622), Brett Tibbett (1,250).

Second 9 candidates in order of first preference votes received:

Arthur Lysault (1,115), Margaret McKenna (1,224) (1,066), John Hagger (1,062), Sue Hughes (1,764) (981), Trevor Ellem (954), Peta Rogers (937), Ian Saunders (916),  Joy De Roos (473), John Riggall (458).

Final three candidates in order of first preference votes received:

Marty Wells (290), Ursula Tunks (540) (285), Keith Bates (156).

* First preference votes in 2012 Clarence Valley LGA election marked in red and first preference votes in 2016 LGA election in black.

NSW ELECTORAL COMMISSION VIRTUAL TALLY ROOM

Summary of Candidate First Preference Votes

2.25pm 11 September 2016

There are 9 Councillors to be elected from 21 candidates

Total Number of Electors enrolled in this Council area on 1 August 2016: 39,070

Percentage of all enrolled voters counted: 80.24%

Progressive Quota: 2,957

Informal Rate: 5.72%

Batching commenced: 2:06pm

Summary of First Preference Votes
Candidate	Party/IND	FP Votes		Quota Ratio	% Formal Votes
NOVAK Debrah	IND	2,023		0.68	6.84%
SAUNDERS Ian	IND	916		0.31	3.10%
CLANCY Greg	GRN	1,622		0.55	5.49%
ROGERS Peta	IND	937		0.32	3.17%
TIBBETT Brett	IND	1,250		0.42	4.23%
TOMS Karen	IND	2,294		0.78	7.76%
TUNKS Ursula	IND	285		0.1	0.96%
KINGSLEY Jason	IND	1,954		0.66	6.61%
HAGGER John	IND	1,062		0.36	3.59%
ELLEM Peter	IND	1,946		0.66	6.58%
WILLIAMSON Richie		4,921		1.66	16.65%
WELLS Marty	IND	290		0.1	0.98%
ELLEM Trevor	IND	954		0.32	3.23%
DE ROOS Joy		473		0.16	1.60%
BATES Keith		156		0.05	0.53%
HUGHES Sue	IND	981		0.33	3.32%
SIMMONS Jim	IND	1,971		0.67	6.67%
RIGGALL John	IND	458		0.15	1.55%
LYSAUGHT Arthur	IND	1,115		0.38	3.77%
McKENNA Margaret	IND	1,066		0.36	3.61%
BAKER Andrew	IND	2,888		0.98	9.77%
Total Formal Votes Counted		29,562			100%
Total Informal/Other Votes		1,792			5.72%
Progressive Total Votes		31,354

All preference distributions and any outstanding postal votes should be included in the final ballot tally by Thursday night, 15 September and the election results declared by 16 September 2016.