RESIDENTS of Fremantle and East Fremantle have voted for more of the same at Saturday’s Local Government Election, with all sitting members running for re-election voted back in.
The City of Fremantle’s highly publicised mayoral race came down to 1005 votes, as incumbent Brad Pettitt regained office with just over 54 per cent of the vote over former Fremantle Chamber of Commerce president Ra Stewart’s 45.2 per cent.
The five-way tussle for City ward was won by Adin Lang with 29.72 per cent of the vote ahead of Linda Wayman (26.12 per cent) and Claudia Green (24.54).
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READ NOWSouth ward was also tight, with incumbent councillor Andrew Sullivan retaining his seat with 31.78 per cent of the vote, just 57 votes ahead of Liam Carter with 29.02 per cent and Marija Vujcic (25.08 per cent).
Former Fremantle mayor Jenny Archibald was elected to East ward, taking the seat vacated by Dave Coggin in April, while Hannah Fitzhardinge, Sam Wainwright and Doug Thompson were re-elected to Beaconsfield, Hilton and North wards respectively.
Town of East Fremantle’s Jim O’Neill will return for another term as mayor after beating out councillor Cliff Collinson.
Mr O’Neill received 1164 votes or 54.70 per cent of the backing, with Mr Collinson picking up 964.
Two councillors were elected to Preston Point ward, with incumbent Michael McPhail earning 31.32 per cent of the vote and the four year term while Tony Natale took the vacant two-year term seat with 24.45 per cent.
Andrew McPhail and Jenny Harrington were re-elected to Richmond ward and Plympton ward respectively.
Tony Watkins was re-elected to Woodside ward unopposed.
Voter numbers were up in both electorates, with Fremantle’s turnout rate at 45.7 per cent, up from 35.22 per cent in 2013 and 2015 combined, while East Fremantle jumped from 23.5 per cent to 33.4 per cent.
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