{"id":97091,"date":"2015-02-21T18:15:25","date_gmt":"2015-02-21T08:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=97091"},"modified":"2020-08-18T14:24:30","modified_gmt":"2020-08-18T04:24:30","slug":"curran-elected-mayor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/02\/21\/curran-elected-mayor\/","title":{"rendered":"Curran Elected Mayor"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gympie Mayor Mick Curran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 21, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cr Mick Curran has been elected Gympie Mayor by the slimmest of margins – just 25 votes.<\/p>\n

Cr Curran was ahead of fellow Gympie Regional councillor Ian Petersen by 108\u00a0on primary votes, but his lead narrowed sharply after the distribution of preferences.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

However, the result stayed the same and Cr Curran was declared elected.<\/p>\n

Cr Larry Friske will serve as Deputy Mayor after winning a Council vote for the position 4-3 on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First Preference Votes (in ballot paper order)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n