March 28, 2024
Almost two weeks after polls closed, Kathy Duff has been officially declared the new Mayor of the South Burnett Regional Council.
The former Division 5 councillor defeated former Deputy Mayor – and then Acting Mayor – Gavin Jones by more than 4300 votes.
Former Division 4 councillor Kirstie Schumacher secured the second highest number of first preference votes but it was not enough to topple the popular “lady in pink”.
Newcomer Tom Wilson came a distant last in the mayor poll, with just over 2500 votes.
* * *
With 22,040 official first preference votes been counted in the South Burnett mayoral poll:
- SCHUMACHER, Kirstie – 5263
- DUFF, Kathy – 9030 – DECLARED
- WILSON, Tom – 2540
- JONES, Gavin – 4694
- Informal – 513
Division 1
With 3615 official first preference votes counted:
- DE WEERS, Tom – 1634
- ERKENS, Jane – 1869 – DECLARED
- Informal – 112
Division 2
With 3750 official first preference votes counted:
- LITTLE, Linda – 1655 – DECLARED
- GRANT, Douglas – 900
- HAZELTON, Wendy – 998
- Informal – 197
Division 3
- Position was uncontested. Cr Danita Potter has been re-elected unopposed.
Division 4
With 3673 official first preference votes counted:
- DALY, Gerald – 222
- SCHUBACK, Seth – 232
- ANDERSSON, Dan – 438
- WESTBROOK, Heidi – 1187
- DENNIEN, Deb – 1472 – DECLARED
- Informal – 122
Division 5
With 3646 official first preference votes counted:
- BATTESE, Stuart – 1141
- WALTERS, Allan – 616
- SANDER, Heath – 1755 – DECLARED
- Informal – 134
Division 6
With 4054 official first preference votes counted:
- HENSCHEN, Scott – 1270
- HEIT, Ros – 2696 – DECLARED
- Informal – 88
UPDATED April 1: Divisions 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 have now all been declared. Cr Danita Potter was elected unopposed in Division 3.
