Long-time Melville Mayor defeated

MELVILLE has a new a Mayor with George Gear defeating long-time incumbent Russell Aubrey last night.

Mr Gear captured 42.28 per cent of the votes ahead of Mr Aubrey (29) and councillor Katy Mair (28.72 per cent).

Mr Aubrey had been Mayor for 12 years after he replaced Mair, who was Mayor for the previous 12 years.

Mr Gear said he was not surprised by the result as there was a “need for change” expressed by the community.“I stuck to local issues and stayed away from State and Federal issues,” he said.

Mr Gear said he would continue to stay neutral on Roe 8 and 9 and would sit down with councillors to impress on them the need to vote independently.

Duncan Macphail won the Bateman-Kardinya-Murdoch Ward after switching wards due to a change in boundaries, which meant he went up against incumbent councillor Tim Barling.

There are several new faces on the council, including Glynis Barber who won the Bicton-Attadale-Alfred Ward with 48 per cent of the vote in a four-person race.

Tomas Fitzgerald beat out incumbent councillor Phelan Patricia Phelan with 28.77 per cent of the vote in a five-person race.

There is a new face In the Central Ward where Margaret Sandford claimed 40.87 per cent of the vote.

Nicholas Pazolli retained his Applecross-Mt Pleasant seat in a two-person race against former councillor Cameron Schuster, with 64 per cent of the vote.

Matthew Woodall did likewise in the Bull Creek-Leeming Ward with 46.79 in a five candidate field.

No ward had more than a 40 per cent turnout, with Applecross-Mt Pleasant going the closest with 39.82 per cent.

Aubrey’s reaction

OUTGOING Melville Mayor Russell Aubrey has promised to take a backseat in local council politics.

Mr Aubrey was defeated by former Tangney MHR George Gear in Saturday’s local government election, bringing an end to his 12-year reign.

He said Mr Gear’s campaign was better run because he had “professional people” behind it with more money spent.

“It was like bringing boxing gloves to a gun fight,” he said.

“I ran from a strong base of supporting Roe 8 because I believed in the safety of the community.”

Mr Aubrey said he had no thoughts about running to be a councillor in two years time or taking a tilt at a return to Mayor in 2023.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to get involved (in Melville politics), there are good people in the community who will do that,” he said.

“I’m going to take a backseat and focus on my own health.

“It is a relief (not to be involved in Melville politics), I’ve had to put up with bullying and harassment.”

Mr Aubrey said reflecting on his time as Mayor, he was happy he stuck by his principles.

“I’ve received a lot of messages thanking me for my service, I’m happy I’ve helped fix the City’s finances,” he said.