Leadership changes across the board in Great Southern after local government elections

Local governments across the Great Southern have recently sworn in new councillors to represent the region’s ratepayers. The October 16 local government elections produced a major shake-up of councils and their leadership positions. Tom Shanahan reports. CITY OF ALBANY Four new elected members have joined the City of Albany council after a tight election race featuring a field of 22 candidates. The biggest upset came in the Kalgan ward, where newcomer Thomas Brough received more than twice as many votes as incumbent Emma Doughty. The three other newcomers were two-time City of Kalgoorlie Boulder councillor Amanda Cruse, Malcolm Traill and former Nationals WA State election candidate Delma Baesjou. Cr Sandie Smith was elected deputy mayor after Cr Greg Stocks left the role. SHIRE OF BROOMEHILL- TAMBELLUP The Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup elected a new president, with Cr Michael White taking the reins from Cr Mark Paganoni. Cr Paganoni and Carl Letter were both re-elected. The Shire also welcomed two new councillors for the next term in Woodyarrup Merino Stud principal Craig Dewar and local bushfire volunteer Julian Wills. SHIRE OF CRANBROOK Five councillors were sworn into office at a special meeting of the council on October 20, including four new faces. George Pollard, Daisy Egerton-Warburton, Lee Casson and Perin Mulcahy made their way into the role of councillor for the first time, while Peter Slater was voted back on to the council for his second term. Phil Horrocks was re-elected as Shire president and newly sworn in councillor Mr Pollard will take up the role as deputy president. Cr Horrocks thanked the outgoing councillors and made special mention of Peter Denton for his commitment to the community over 14 years on the council. SHIRE OF DENMARK The Shire of Denmark now has a female-majority council, with three new female councillors and the re-elected Cr Jan Lewis joining Cr Gearon and Cr Janine Phillips. Councillors Clare Campbell, Jackie Ormsby and Donna Carman were elected for the first time, along with councillors Nathan Devenport and Donald Clarke. While the election delivered big changes for the council, Cr Gearon was re-elected unopposed for another term as shire president. Cr Kingsley Gibson was elected unopposed as deputy president after former deputy Mark Allen was unseated by just five votes. SHIRE OF DUMBLEYUNG Solidifying a stable leadership team has been the key message from this year’s elections for re-elected Shire of Dumbleyung president Julie Ramm. There were no changes to the make-up of the council, with the same four faces of councillors Grant Lukins, Bevan Doney, Kevin Powell and Marilyn Hasleby all re-elected for another term. Cr Ramm said that after a couple of years of unstable leadership in the council, she hoped the continuity would help the Shire move towards executing its strategic plan by the end of the year and work through community issues with focus. Cr Amy Knight was elected deputy president. SHIRE OF GNOWANGERUP The council farewelled four Shire representatives at this year’s election. Richard House, Frank Hmeljak, Chris Thomas and 12-year council veteran Keith House all departed. They were replaced by councillors Rebecca O’Meehan, Rebecca Kiddle, Peter Callaghan and Alexander Martin. Cr Greg Stewart was re-elected to serve another term. SHIRE OF JERRAMUNGUP Joanne Iffla has been sworn in as the Shire of Jerramungup’s new president after serving as deputy president for the past nine years. Cr Iffla was re-elected to the council last month, along with Cr Julie Leenhouwers. Cr Neil Foreman was the only newcomer, with all three elected unopposed. Cr Leenhouwers will serve as the Shire’s deputy president. SHIRE OF KATANNING Nearly half of the Shire of Katanning’s councillors did not return after the local government elections, making way for three new faces to take up the vacant positions. Incoming councillors Matthew Collis, Adrian Edwards and Michelle Salter were elected unopposed to a new-look seven-member council. Kristy D’April was the one councillor who opted to renew her position and was re-elected unopposed. The three new faces will swap places with five outgoing councillors in Mark Stephens, Ernie Menghini, Martin Van Koldenhoven, Owen Boxall and Danny McGrath. SHIRE OF KENT Shire of Kent president Scott Crosby was re-elected to serve as leader of the council for another term. Cr Darren Gray was elected to the council, while councillors Kate Johnston and Justin Germain were returned. All three were elected unopposed. The Shire is looking to fill an additional two seats on the council and nominations for the extraordinary elections have just closed, with the election to be held on December 10. SHIRE OF KOJONUP Seven candidates stood for four seats in the Shire of Kojonup. Former Shire presidents John Benn and Ronnie Fleay lost their seats as the three new faces of Paul Webb, Roger Bulney and Alan Egerton-Warburton were sworn in. Susanne Bilney was also unseated at the election. Cr Ned Radford took the reins as Shire president, while Cr Webb was elected as deputy president. SHIRE OF PLANTAGENET Shire of Plantagenet president Chris Pavlovich and deputy president Jon Oldfield will continue to lead the council for another two years after they were re-elected without challenge Mt Barker Community College principal Andrew Fraser was the only new face elected. Cr Brett Bell (890 votes) held on to his seat by just three votes over local teacher Rosie Brown. SHIRE OF WAGIN With one seat yet to fill, the Shire of Wagin will have an extraordinary council election in December. Jason Reed left the council after an eight-year stint, along with Lyn Lucas and David Atkins. Three councillors were sworn in last month, including Cr Muriel Ann O’Brien who is a newcomer to the council. The council re-elected Phillip Blight as president and Greg Ball as deputy president until 2023. SHIRE OF WEST ARTHUR Cr Neil Morrell has been elected president of the Shire of West Arthur, with Cr Graeme Peirce as his deputy. Three newcomers were sworn in last month — councillors Darren South, Karen Harrington and Robyn Lubcke. Cr Neil Manuel was returned to the council as 10 candidates contested four seats. Former Shire president Kevin King and Cr Marie Lloyd were unseated at the election. SHIRE OF WOODANILLING Cr Russel Thomson has stepped down as president after a 26-year stint at the head of the Shire of Woodanilling council. Cr Thomson chose not to nominate for the role and is now the deputy president after being re-elected on to the council for another term. Woodanilling Tavern owner Cr Stephen Jefferies is the Shire’s new president Cr Dale Douglas was re-elected last month while Morris Trimming retired from the council, leaving one role to be filled at an extraordinary election next month.