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City of Joondalup mayoral race heats up

Justin BianchiniJoondalup Times

WILL one of them be recycled into local government leadership?

Or will former State politicians Albert Jacob and Robert Johnson be looking for another pursuit when the Joondalup mayoral result comes around this Saturday night?

Will this be local businessman Russell Poliwka’s final tilt at the top job, a post the local business association stalwart and current councillor has sought several times since the first Joondalup election 18 years ago?

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Times cartoonist Smithy has drawn arguably the three frontrunners on each side of a debate in some circles over the nature and cost of verge rubbish collections.

Whoever wins will have the task of uniting the council behind him.

And the big winner on the night will be apathy, with the return of postal ballot papers indicating about a 24 per cent participation rate in the non-compulsory vote.

The City of Wanneroo is faring about the same.

Voters have until 6pm this Saturday to lodge their vote at Joondalup and Wanneroo’s administration buildings.

ALSO READ: Old foes in claim for Joondalup mayoral throne

Albert Jacob has the edge: polling analyst

The Times asked WA election analyst William Bowe how he saw the chances of the two former Liberal ministers Rob Johnson and Albert Jacob.

Phillip Ruddock, 74-year-old former minister in the Howard government, was recently elected mayor of Hornsby in Sydney.

Perhaps that bodes well for Liberals on the rebound – including rather old ones.

But unless he faced a particularly strong challenger (aside from Rob Johnson), I would presume Albert Jacob was very well placed.

He should draw support from Liberal loyalists, whereas the anti-Liberal vote will split among numerous other candidates.

Rob Johnson does have a following locally, but I would be surprised if it amounted to as much as what Jacob is able to draw as the natural candidate for Liberal voters.

– William Bowe writes the popular blog The Poll Bludger

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