February 21, 2015
Cr Mick Curran has been elected Gympie Mayor by the slimmest of margins – just 25 votes.
Cr Curran was ahead of fellow Gympie Regional councillor Ian Petersen by 108 on primary votes, but his lead narrowed sharply after the distribution of preferences.
The ballot to fill the role left vacant by the resignation of Mayor Ron Dyne (see separate report) was conducted solely by mail, with all ballot slips to returned by 5:00pm on February 17.
As counting began, it quickly became clear it was going to be a two-horse race between the two serving Gympie councillors, with preferences likely to decide the result.
After the distribution of preferences on Thursday, Cr Curran was in the lead by 25 votes but with the result so close, the Electoral Commission of Queensland called for a recount.
However, the result stayed the same and Cr Curran was declared elected.
Cr Larry Friske will serve as Deputy Mayor after winning a Council vote for the position 4-3 on Wednesday.
* * *
First Preference Votes (in ballot paper order):
- Lawler, Reg – 1823 (7.44pc)
- Anderson, Doug – 782 (3.19pc)
- Lohse, Gay – 2620 (10.69pc)
- Petersen, Ian – 7057 (28.79pc)
- Curran, Mick – 7165 (29.23pc)
- Groth, George – 913 (3.72pc)
- Horswood, Lindsay – 583 (2.38pc)
- Engeman, Graham – 3573 (14.57pc)
After Distribution Of Preferences
- Petersen, Ian – 7963 (49.92pc)
- Curran, Mick – 7988 (50.08pc)
- Exhausted ballots – 8565
* * *
On Friday, Gympie Council invited nominations from “suitably qualified people” to fill the vacant positions left in the divisional seats of new mayor Mick Curran (Division 7) and former councillor Tony Perrett (Division 6).
Cr Perrett was elected as the LNP Member for Gympie at the January 31 State Election.
Cr Curran was elected Gympie Mayor at the recent mayoral by-election.
The timing of the vacancies means Gympie CEO Bernard Smith can simply invite nominations from shire residents to fill the vacant positions until the next Council election in March 2016.
Applications should be addressed to the CEO, Gympie Regional Council, PO Box 155, Gympie, 4570 and must be received via mail or email before 5:00pm on Friday, March 13, 2015.
- Related article: Former Mayor Dies
