Van Heemst wants top Perth Racing job
Perth Racing chairman Ted van Heemst, relegated to fourth in a poll when re-elected to the club committee, will shrug off a backlash from the turf industry and has announced he will stand for leadership today.
Four sitting members of Perth Racing's committee were re-elected when a poll was announced at last night's club annual general meeting and three challengers were clearly beaten.
Topping the committeeman poll were sitting members Graham Daws with 667 votes from Noel Carter, 647 and Grahaem Donovan, 639. Ted van Heemst polled 630 votes.
The beaten challengers votes were Paul Masten, 521, James Miorada, 477 and James Bent, 409.
Van Heemst said after the AGM he was not considering stepping down after 13 years as chairman. The chairmanship election will be held at a committee meeting this morning.
"Yes I will be standing," said van Heemst.
"If the members of an organisation are disenchanted a person at the top usually is affected in a poll.
"I'm not surprised I finished only fourth. It's been a tough year for the club."
Perth Racing began the 2008-2009 period with a major controversy on reduction of the Perth Cup distance.
During the year the club admitted going into debt, blaming the world economic crisis.
Daws said last night he would not stand against van Heemst for chairmanship despite having topped the poll.
"I won't be challenging Ted," said Daws. "I will be supporting him as chairman."
