Albany MP Rebecca Stephens’ council seat to be vacant until October election

City of Albany mayor Dennis Wellington has confirmed Albany MP Rebecca Stephens’ council seat will remain vacant until the October 2021 local government election.

Several councillors took the opportunity to commend their fellow councillor Ms Stephens for her State election victory at Tuesday night’s council meeting, praising her hard work during her three years on council and noting she would be a “big loss”.

Cr Wellington said the City hoped to work “very closely with” Ms Stephens as the member for Albany over the next four years.

Now that the City had received Ms Stephens’ official resignation they would request that the WA Electoral Commission allow the seat to remain vacant until the ordinary election, leaving the council with 12 local representatives, Cr Wellington said.

With more than 87 per cent of votes counted by Wednesday afternoon, Ms Stephens had recorded 11,763 first preference votes, equating to 50.8 per cent of total votes.

Liberal candidate Scott Leary was trailing with 4203 primary votes or 18.2 per cent.

Ms Stephens was in front by 63.6 per cent to 36.4 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.