Council’s mayor for its entire first term Pat Bourke from Urana and number 2 on his ticket, David Fahey, Mulwala’s Andrew Kennedy, Howlong’s David Longley, and Aaron Nicholls, Shaun Whitechurch and Sally Hughes of Corowa will be formally sworn in as councillor on Thursday, December 23 at the 11.00am meeting where elections for mayor and deputy mayor will take place.
David Fahey, Aaron Nicholls and Sally Hughes will be first time councillors with Federation Council, the latter two the first time as councillors.
Of the two remaining spots for councillor, it appears to be out of would-be first-time councillor Rowena Black of Corowa who is leading the race, Mulwala’s Bethany Robinson and Corowa’s Gail Law, the latter seeking re-election.
The final decision is expected to be known by Friday following the counting of on-line votes.
If 32-year-old Bethany is elected, she will arguably become the youngest ever person to serve as councillor out of all the councillors who have served from the former Corowa and Urana Shires which of course, amalgamated in 2016 to form Federation Council.
Nine councillors are to be elected from the 31 candidates. From existing councillors seeking re-election, Norm Wales will not have the numbers and will leave council after two decades.
The mayor for the entire first, four-year term of Federation Council – extended by a year in view of Covid-19 - Pat Bourke, described his highest polling vote result as “unbelievable”.
“I wasn’t that confident Saturday morning. Coming home with David (Fahey, from the polling booth) I said ‘we might be done’,” he told The Free Press.
“But getting David Fahey on council is very good – I need that help for the northern part of the Federation Council area. David is very good with Local Government procedures and activities.
“The result has given me confidence. The support of Federation Council voters is much appreciated. I’m looking forward very much to the council’s second term.”
Howlong’s sole representative for a second term, David Longley, polled heavily. “Back in action!” he said.
“I congratulate the others and look forward to working with them, as a team. I’m very appreciative of the support voters have given me and I look forward to my second term on council.”
