Erkens 'Overwhelmed By Support' - southburnett.com.au

Jane Erkens … feeling confident of victory in the South Burnett Regional Council Division 1 poll

May 1, 2022

Nanango real estate agent Jane Erkens is optimistic she has won the South Burnett Regional Council Division 1 by-election but she’s wary of claiming victory ahead of the official declaration.

By noon on Sunday, Mrs Erkens had secured an almost unbeatable lead in the poll and was pictured on social media popping a champagne bottle.

Mrs Erkens told southburnett.com.au she felt humbled by the support she had received from her supporters in the community.

But she admitted the campaign had been stressful, with personal attacks on social media, her corflutes vandalised and demands she remove her umbrellas from outside the early voting centre.

Mrs Erkens said she had been overwhelmed by the people who had offered her support, but she also felt frustrated by other residents who had opposed her simply because of her pro-vaccine stand during the pandemic.

She said this was an issue that had nothing to do with Council.

By noon on Sunday, Mrs Erkens had secured 1226 primary votes, ie. 45.26 per cent of the vote, in the preliminary count.

Levi Madeley had secured 624 votes (23.03 per cent), Rebecca Jackson 466 votes (17.20 per cent) and Tony Edwards 393 votes (14.51 per cent).

Just over 70 per cent of votes from enrolled voters had been counted.

Counting to decide the by-election outcome began as soon as the polls closed at 6:00pm on Saturday.

At the close of counting on Saturday night, Mrs Erkens had secured 1191 votes, ahead of Mr Madeley with 612, Mrs Jackson on 452 and Mr Edwards on 383.

No votes will be counted on Monday, the Labour Day holiday.

A total of 2795 formal and 86 informal votes had been counted by 12:12pm on Sunday.

There are 3986 voters enrolled in Division 1.

The Council vacancy was created by the resignation of former Division 1 councillor Roz Frohloff on March 23.