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Welcome to election day!

Ok so maybe all the attention is on a certain election count many thousands of kilometres away
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Posted by:
Bryn Davies
November 12, 2024
November 6, 2024

Ok so maybe all the attention is on a certain election count many thousands of kilometres away… but you might like to know that the final counts for the Mount Alexander Shire elections are on today!

Just to recap:

  • Calder (Barkers Creek, Harcourt, Sutton Grange etc) – is between Tony Cordy (current Councillor), Kerrie Allen and Ken Price. The first count had Cordy ahead in a super close race which will come down to preferences today.
  • Campbells Creek (Campbells Creek and McKenzie/s Hill) – the candidates are Bill Maltby (sitting Councillor) and the Greens’ Gavan Thompson. The provisional count has Maltby ahead 60% - 40%.
  • Coliban (Chewton, Fryerstown, Elphinstone, Taradale) – is between Kelly-Ann Blake, Phil Walker and Max Lesser. Again a close race with Kelly-Ann Blake ahead. It will come down to preferences, to be counted today.

Look out for formal announcements before the end of the week (you can also check out the counting results down at the Ray Bradfield Room, next to IGA/Victory (Jaara) Park.

Councillors already elected

Congratulations again to the councillors elected unopposed:

  • Rosie Annear in Barkers Creek Ward
  • Lucas Maddock in Moonlight Creek Ward
  • Toby Heydon in Forest Creek Ward
  • Matthew Driscoll in Loddon River Ward
  • Rosalie Hastwell in Tarrengower Ward

Whichever way the contested counts go, we will have a pretty different looking Council from this month. From our conversations to date, we think the new Council has real potential to work well with community, and with each other, to chart a positive direction.  Let's see how we can work with them to achieve that.

Still worried about democracy?

Our events this year have reignited my faith in local democracy. But if you are still worried, there are lots of good sources to help you out:

  • The ABC Big Ideas is running and SOS Democracy series right now. I highly recommend this episode with Scott Stephens on saving democracy with decency.
  • Last year BBC's Reith Lectures featuring Ben Ansell with a hopeful take on our democratic future.
  • Wisdom of Crowds on Substack recently asked readers to send a quote or passage that says something valuable about democracy. Worth a read.

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