The imminent new council is set to include ungrouped candidates, current councillor Rowena Black and new candidate David Bott, and grouped candidates Cheryl Cook and number 2 Susan Wearne, (both Howlong), Derek Schoen (Redlands and formerly on Corowa Shire Council), and Mulwala sitting councillor Andrew Kennedy.
It’s a close race for the remaining three councillor jobs. The big shock at this point in time, as the Chronicle was going to print, is that the mayor and deputy mayor of Federation Council since its formation with Urana and Corowa Shires merging in 2016, Pat Bourke and Shaun Whitechurch, have battled to be re-elected. As does current councillor Sally Hughes of Corowa.
The remaining three councillors will most likely come from Oaklands’ resident Richard Nixon, Corowa’s Dave Harrison the sitting mayor and deputy mayor.
Mayor Bourke said he was shocked at the substantial drop in his support, from 22% just under three years ago to this year’s 5%.
“I’ve spoken to several mayors who took on SRVs (Special Rate Variations) and they’re all in the same position,” he told the Chronicle.
The Urana businessman expressed alarm at another newspaper’s article that a local opponent of SRVs, Derek Schoen, appears to be softening his objection to SRVs and defended council’s position following endorsement from Professor Drew and council’s hardship policy, labelling it “about face”.
Election results have been slower this time. On Saturday night, the NSW Electoral Commission only uploaded vote counts from booths at Howlong and Oaklands.
It was clear the all-Howlong Group G Ticket result would guarantee its number one candidate, Cheryl Cook, would be successful and possibly the ticket’s number 2 candidate Susan Wearne.
Out of the formal votes counted at that stage, Mrs Cook’s ticket had recorded 71%, equating to 807 votes of 1132 ballots.
“I’m confident of getting our second on too,” a ‘pleasantly surprised, excited and extremely stoked’ Cheryl Cook told the Chronicle on Monday.
It’s shaping up as a return to some years ago when Howlong was represented by two councillors, on the Corowa Shire but has had just one, Cr David Longley in the last seven years. Cr Longley, along with Cr Gail Law and Cr Aaron Nicholls, did not seek re-election.
“We received a nice vote from Howlong,” 66-year-old Mrs Cook, the Howlong Community Progress Association secretary with a strong administrative background said.
“We were full of integrity and there was no ambiguity. We always wanted to get two on council and we ran a good campaign for the town with a focus on Howlong. It’s wonderful.”
Former councillor and deputy mayor of Corowa Shire Council Derek Schoen, who headed up a ticket, will return to council.
At age 30, he was the youngest councillor when he entered Corowa Shire Council. “I’m very pleased how the vote has gone – I still need forty votes – and I think it will be a very good make-up of councillors across the area,” the now 64-years-of-age said.
“There may have to be some reduction in SRVs. There has to be a change in the secrecy in council. All public documents should be made available to the public, other than commercial-in-confidence and personal staff matters.”
Mulwala’s Andrew Kennedy again headed up the town ticket and will serve for a third term. Whilst he was thankful to the community, especially Mulwala, for their votes, he was disappointed to see the big drop in support for his mayor who “has worked really hard for the betterment of the Federation shire”.
Standing as an individual, David Bott had received a high number of votes by early Monday morning and expressed his happiness soon after.
“The most pleasing part was the support across the whole shire and I was particularly pleased with the result in Mulwala (65 votes),” the 50-year-old farmer said.
“It’s important council moved past parochialism since amalgamation. It’s important councillors remember to act with good sense and make the right decisions, and give confidence making decisions.”
Mr Bott said with cost of living pressures on households and businesses, the special rate variations are of concern to Federation Council residents.
“I believe there are savings to be found in council. There are plenty of assumptions in Professor Drew’s report and there are differences of opinion by many of us,” he said.
“The community has voted for change and the make-up of council will be different to reflect this.”
Corowa Football Netball Club secretary/treasurer Rowena Black polled very well and feels “honoured by the community to have increased support in this election”.
“My passion has and will always be serving our community with drive and thoughtfulness, listening to people from every part of Federation,” she said.
“I am excited for the future of Federation knowing that we still have challenges ahead but also so much potential to become a place for liveability and visibility for all people.
“I look forward to working with new and old councillors and hope to see a group of people who have the same common goal to plan for a positive future for all residents of Federation.”
A significant increase in pre polling is now evident throughout Australia and Corowa’s Memorial Hall last week was typical of the increase.
A total of 9,966 residents and non-residents were enrolled in the Federation Council area as of August 5, 2024. An informal vote of 25% was recorded.
The Chronicle will run a further story, on the probable, or final make up of councillors next week.
