By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM’S Mayor has been voted out in an election that has seen six new faces elected to the council.
Provisional results for the council election released late on Sunday night by the Victorian Electoral Commission showed that three incumbent councillors had been rejected by voters.
In the Chaffey Ward, immediate past Mayor Kim McAliney placed well on first preferences votes, receiving 2,155, or 8.13 per cent.
But in an election where preference deals made all the difference, Ms McAliney was beaten across the line by Marie Brittan, John Gibbons and Gautam Gupta, who received only 902 votes but still came in second place.
Five-time Mayor Shane Bourke received the most votes of any candidate – 6,101 or 23 per cent of the vote, to easily return for another four-year term.
Ms McAliney told Star she was disappointed by the result.
“I’m obviously disappointed but I’ve had seven years on council, two as mayor and one as deputy mayor, and I have absolutely no regrets,” Ms McAliney said.
“I still have the passion to represent Wyndham and a true community leader turns around and continues to do whatever she can for her area.
“I think I will move on from being a councillor though and I will find other ways to advocate for Wyndham.”
Ms McAliney congratulated her friend Marie Brittan who had previously been elected to council but was stood down because of her full-time job working as an electorate officer for Tarneit MP Tim Pallas.
Incumbent councillor Marcel Mahfoud was also voted out, registering 976 votes.
The Harrison Ward was the only one to re-elect all of its incumbent councillors, with Bob Fairclough, Glenn Goodfellow and Adele Hegedich all polling strongly.
With 4,919 votes, Bob Fairclough was, along with Shane Bourke, the only other candidate to reach his ward’s quota of votes and therefore not rely on any preference votes.
Intaj Khan received 1,281 first preference votes to take the extra position available in the Harrison Ward. He said it was clear how important preference deals were in the election.
“I’m pretty happy with the result. I believe I should have got more first preference votes but when you are competing against the incumbent councillors it is quite challenging,” Mr Khan told Star.
“If I didn’t have my preferences I wouldn’t have become a councillor.”
Mr Khan said he was undecided on whether or not he would run for Mayor.
“At this stage I don’t know. It’s a big responsibility but if the other councillors would support me then I would give it a go.”
In the Iramoo Ward, former Mayor Heather Marcus was the only incumbent re-elected. Cynthia Manson’s 2,176 first preference votes failed to get her across the line.
Ms Marcus received 5,079 votes or 23.68 per cent of the vote, the highest percentage of any candidate.
Peter Gibbons and Peter Maynard were also given their first chances at the job with 4,431 and 2,913 first preference votes respectively.
