Katanning councillors get bigger turnout
Three new councillors were elected to Katanning Shire Council, with voter turnout in the October 19 local government election better than two years ago.
A total of 5625 valid votes were tallied as anxious candidates waited for the official result on the night.
Councillor and incumbent Shire president Richard Kowald and Cr Alep Mydie were returned for new terms, securing 645 and 769 votes respectively.
Business owners Craig McKinley (875 votes) and Danny McGrath (716), along with farmer Owen Boxell (788), will be the new faces on council after voters gave them the nod.
Candidates David Rees (547), Lesley Balinski (420), Martin Van Koldenhoven (508) and Ken Sutherland (357) failed to gain enough votes to be elected.
Mr McKinley scored the largest number of votes in the campaign.
“There is a lot of work to be done and, for my first attempt, I am happy the way things went,” he said.
“With the number of new councillors voted in, you can see that people are ready for change.”
Mr McKinley thanked the community and his supporters.
Mr McGrath was also thankful for the support he received from voters and his family.
“At the end of the day it’s all about making the right decisions for the long-term benefit of the town and listening to what the people have to say,” he said.
Voter turnout in this year’s council election was 50.87 per cent, greater than the 46.56 per cent of two years ago.
Newly elected and re-elected councillors had an induction on Wednesday, October 23, before they were sworn in that afternoon at the council chambers.
Councillors then voted on who would be their leaders, with Cr Alan McFarland elected to the shire president role and Cr Robert Godfrey elected as deputy shire president..
In other shires, Ronnie Fleay, Robert Sexton, Ned Radford and Frank Pritchard were elected to Kojonup Shire Council.
Gnowangerup had six vacancies filled, with Frank Hmeljak, Lex Martin, Richard House, Keith House, Bronwyn Gaze and Sue Lance elected.
Broomehill-Tambellup had Mike Batchelor, Mark Paganoni, Trevor Prout and Craig Dennis elected to its council.
The shires of Kent, Woodanilling, Wagin and Dumbleyung all had uncontested elections.
