Final results were also announced for Moonee Valley, an inland city in Melbourne’s north-west that has been torn apart by the turmoil and instability of the past four years.
Outgoing Labor-supporting mayor Pierce Tyson has already made concessions in the Steel Creek ward (Airport West/Nidry).
Pierce Tyson and Rose Iser of Moonee Valley; Credit: Simon Schluter
After taking preferences into account, he received 38.62 per cent of the vote, ahead of independent Samantha Byrne, a former city councilor.
Deputy Mayor Narelle Sharpe did not fare much better. Mr Sharp (3,606 votes, taking into account preferences) lost to former Essendon premier politician John Burns (4,790 votes), who was backed by the Liberal Party in the Buckley ward. Burns campaigned against the Arran Government’s high-density housing plans in Essendon North and Niddrie.
Former AFL footballer John Burns has been elected to Moonee Valley City Council, pledging to oppose plans to build more apartments. Credit: Daniel Pocket
In Mireara ward (Keilor East), former mayor and independent John Sipek received 4,688 votes after taking priorities into account, defeating Jessica O’Neill in a relatively close race with 4,068 votes.
In the Queen’s Park ward (Moonee Ponds), independent incumbent Eva Adams won, defeating fellow incumbent Jacob Bettio, who along with Mr Sharp used her position as a councilor to benefit local sports clubs. The decision was found by IBAC last month. Expenses of other clubs.
Labor-leaning Rose Iser has safely returned to Milnon Ward (Flemington) council. Iser received 3,853 votes after distribution, ahead of his closest rivals Jodi Kinnersley (2,124 votes) and Cameron Smith (1,540 votes).
Elsewhere, Liberal MP Hamish Jones won in the Airport Ward (Strathmore), defeating long-serving councilor and former mayor Jan Chantry by a vote of 4,319 to 3,753.
Mr Jones posted a grainy photo of a beer pot on his Facebook page and said he was looking forward to the Cox Plate after the voting deadline passed.
Labor candidate Paula Theocalides defeated Jacob Hvezda by just nine votes in the Canning ward (Avondale Heights) after a close contest.
In Fairbairn (Ascotvale), fellow Labor ally Phil Byrne easily won with 62.32 per cent of the preference vote.
In Woodlands (Essendon), Labour’s Fran Cosgriff won with 4,339 votes to Jason Bryant’s 3,303 after preference allocation.
