Former mayor joins council ranks
Former mayor Alison Goode is among six representatives who were elected to join the most gender-equal council in the City of Albany’s history at the weekend.
The faces of Albany’s new council were announced on Saturday night, following a low turnout of voters at 35.01 per cent.
There are now six male and six female representatives to join Mayor Dennis Wellington.
Although the turnout is higher than the WA average of 28 per cent, it is lower than the 46.3 per cent Albany voter turnout in 2011 and the 42.5 per cent rate from 2009.
Councillors Ray Hammond, Carolyn Dowling and Rob Sutton were returned for the next four years, while David Bostock and Don Dufty lost their seats.
Inaugural City of Albany mayor Ms Goode gained 699 votes or 43.66 per cent to claim the West ward, beating Mr Dufty on 452 votes or 28.23 per cent and Michael Moran on 450 votes or 28.11 per cent.
Ms Goode said she would remain fair and impartial to her husband Gerry Gregson who is the other West ward councillor.
“Both my husband and I are individuals, we disagree on a lot of things, when we are in the chamber he is a councillor and I am a councillor,” she said.
Newcomer Janelle Price received 932 votes or 62.22 per cent in the Kalgan ward, compared to John Gates on 284 votes or 18.96 per cent and John Jamieson on 282 votes or 18.83 per cent.
Nicolette Williams, who has previously sat on council, won the Vancouver ward with 638 votes or 58.37 per cent, knocking out Mr Bostock who received 455 votes or 41.63 per cent.
Breaksea ward councillor Mr Hammond received a whopping 989 votes or 73.37 per cent compared with Tom Crossen’s 359 votes or 26.63 per cent.
In the Frederickstown ward, Ms Dowling received 680 votes or 48.33 per cent, with Anthony Moir getting 451 votes or 32.05 per cent and Michael Pemberton 276 votes or 19.62 per cent.
Mr Sutton obtained 954 votes or 59.77 per cent in the Yakamia ward, compared with Max Chester’s 642 votes or 40.23 per cent.
Mayor Dennis Wellington welcomed the new councillors and said there was more of a gender mix now.
