September 26, 2013
At noon today, Acting Electoral Commissioner Walter van der Merwe officially declared the poll for the South Burnett Local Government councillor by-election, confirming candidate Ros Heit will now represent Division 6.
After the distribution of preferences, Mrs Heit defeated Don Pinwill by three votes, achieving 50.1 per cent of the total vote.
Mrs Heit this afternoon thanked her supporters and everyone who voted for her.
“I needed every single vote! It’s been a nail biting time and now the real work begins,” she said.
“Thanks so much to family and friends. Your support and encouragement has been wonderful.
“I will do my best to justify the confidence voters have put in me.”
Mayor Wayne Kratzmann told southburnett.com.au that he would be meeting with Mrs Heit on Monday to discuss portfolio options.
He said he was thinking of doing a minor re-shuffle of portfolios.
Mayor Kratzmann said it would be good to have someone back representing Division 6.
As predicted, the recounting of votes in the South Burnett Regional Council Division 6 by-election has gone down to the wire.
After today’s full recount, and distribution of preferences, candidate Ros Heit is in the lead by three votes over Don Pinwill.
However, this result is yet to be officially declared by the Acting Electoral Commissioner Walter van der Merwe.
After the recount, the primary votes were (in ballot paper order):
- Ron McKinnon 89
- Michael Magnussen 187
- Ros Heit 626
- Peter Powne 181
- Marc Peters 172
- Wendy Turner 316
- Ian Newson 545
- Don Pinwill 663
After the distribution of preferences:
- Ron McKinnon 89
- Michael Magnusen 195
- Ros Heit 778
- Peter Powne 185
- Marc Peters 172
- Wendy Turner 332
- Ian Newson 583
- Don Pinwill 775
NB. It was optional preferential voting, so not all voters allocated preferences.
Mr van der Merwe ordered the recount yesterday after the first distribution of preferences showed the difference between the first and second-placed candidates as two votes.
“Due to the close result I have instructed the Returning Officer for the District to undertake a recount in the interests of accuracy and fairness,” Mr van der Merwe said.
The recount began at 2:00pm today in Nanango.
After this was completed, and preferences again allocated, Ros Heit’s lead over Don Pinwill had grown to three votes, 778 to 775.
Results published on the Electoral Commission of Queensland website show that preferences from candidate Wendy Turner pushed Mrs Heit into the lead over Mr Pinwill.
Preferences from the third most popular candidate, Ian Newson, were split exactly 50/50 with 72 votes allocated to both Mrs Heit and Mr Pinwill.
