In the four-way mayoral race in East Fremantle, Jim O’Neill, who has held the Town’s mayoral position previously, won the count with 453 votes, seeing off Alex Wilson who was the next best with 285.
Fremantle’s result saw a larger-than-expected win by incumbent mayor Brad Pettitt, snaring 5361 votes ahead of Matthew Hanssen’s 2253.
Dr Pettitt said he was ‘extraordinarily nervous’ on the night but was happy with the result. ‘I am especially happy that I’ve got such a great team of councillors to work with.
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READ NOW‘I am looking forward to a focused and effective next couple of years with key projects like Cantonment Hill, Stan Reilly and sensible local government reform top of mind along with making Freo an even better place to live,’ he said.
It was more of the same in the South, North and Hilton ward positions in Fremantle, with incumbent councillors Andrew Sullivan, Doug Thompson and Sam Wainwright re-elected comfortably ahead of Claudia Green, Matthew Hanssen and Frank Acocella respectively.
Beaconsfield Ward’s Josh Wilson and East Ward’s Dave Coggin were elected unopposed.
The results in two East Fremantle wards were so tight a recount was needed.
In Richmond Ward, Ian Cope ousted incumbent councillor Richard Olsen by just two votes, while in Preston Point Road Michael McPhail won the seat by two votes over Neil Huck.
The Woodside Ward saw Tony Watkins beat incumbent Dean Nardi 206 votes to 153 while in Plympton Jenny Harrington was elected unopposed.