MARCEL Mahfoud is the newly-elected Chaffey Ward councillor following Wyndham City Council’s recount of votes.
Mr Mahfoud won the seat in a countback conducted by the VEC yesterday after Mark Rose resigned.
The former councillor made the announcement last month, citing work and family commitments as the reason behind his decision.
Mr Mahfoud is chairman of The Grange Community Centre and a school council member at The Grange P-12 College.
The Tarneit resident said he was shocked to join the council ranks.
“I have a huge learning curve in front of me and there will not be any time to waste,” he said.
“We have all this growth and planning is a big issue at the moment with trying to get the infrastructure.”
It cost ratepayers $3000 for the recount which was based on the results from the 2008 election.
Mr Mahfoud received only 926 votes to poll seventh, but was able to cross the line based on preference allocations.
Candidates for the vacated seat also included John Gibbons, Walter Villagonzalo and Kanagaratnam Nithi.
The council has lost two Chaffey Ward Councillors within the space of eight months.
– Bridie Byrne
