Lucky dip determines new City of Gosnells mayor

GLENN Dewhurst was named the new Gosnells mayor in stunning fashion last night, after a lucky dip was required to choose the new mayor.

After two rounds of voting, Councillors Dewhurst, Ron Mitchell and Peter Abetz were tied on four votes each, which meant the City was required to put all three names in a barrel and pick out the winning mayor.

Director of governance Grant Bradbrook picked the ball containing Cr Dewhurst’s name out of the barrel, which made him the new mayor.

Five councillors nominated for mayor, including incumbent deputy mayor Julie Brown and Cr David Goode.

After the first round of voting, Cr Brown had one vote, Cr Goode had two votes and Cr Dewhurst, Mitchell and Abetz all had three votes.

Following a 15 minute recess, Crs Brown and Goode opted to drop out in the next round of voting, which finished with Crs Dewhurst, Mitchell and Abetz all on four votes.

With none of the three willing to back down and no preferential voting system in place, the lucky dip was used to determine the new mayor and Cr Dewhurst emerged victorious.

Before the voting process, Cr Dewhurst spoke of his desire to build a much stronger presence in the community and offered to meet each councillor individually within the first 30 days of his reign to discuss what was important to them.

He said his time working alongside Andrew Forrest taught him no one had a monopoly on good ideas and he would step down from his role as chief executive of his consulting company to focus on his mayoral duties.

In a less contentious vote, Cr Terresa Lynes was named the new deputy mayor after she received seven votes, ahead of Cr Brown’s three and Cr Goode’s two.

MORE: Voter numbers up as former State politicians enjoy mixed success in local government elections

MORE: Research shows screen time is wrecking teenagers’ sleep

MORE: Coronial inquest examines Perth toddler’s drawer death