Cities of Wanneroo and Joondalup welcome new councillors after local government elections

WANNEROO and Joondalup councils will each have a few new faces in council chambers following Saturday’s local government elections.

At the City of Wanneroo, Mayor Tracey Roberts said she was pleased 67 per cent of voters supported her in the October 17 election.

“I’m humbled and proud to be re-elected as the mayor of City of Wanneroo for a second term,” she said.

“I just want to help people to enjoy where they live.

“I’m constantly out in the community, talking, listening and supporting the community groups.

“We are fast-growing and we have got challenges, and if we all work together we can achieve good outcomes.”

Although her opponent lost the mayoral count, Cr Brett Treby retained his South Ward seat for another four-year term.

The only elected member to have remained on council since the split in 1999, this was the sixth round of elections the Marangaroo resident has faced.

Competing with 10 other candidates for three seats, Cr Treby won 17.7 per cent of the vote behind newcomer Lara Simpkins on almost 19 per cent.

The wife of Federal MP Luke Simpkins will replace Nguyet-Anh Truong, who had served two terms.

Cr Denis Hayden also retained his seat in the South Ward with 14.1 per cent.

In the Central Ward, Frank Cvitan retained his seat with 21.4 per cent of the vote, and newcomer Samantha Fenn won 27.8 per cent, beating former North Ward councillor Norman Hewer, who stood for Central after the ward restructure.

In the new North Coast Ward, Russell Driver retained a seat with 14.8 per cent of votes, and newcomer Natalie Sangalli, of Quinns Rocks, won her first council position with 16.2 per cent.

Former Coastal Ward councillor Bob Smithson missed out on a third term.

Four new people won seats on the City of Joondalup council, while two councillors were re-elected.

Russell Poliwka received 25.5 per cent of the votes in Central Ward, ousting Geoff Amphlett, although it was tightly contested by Sheridan Young and Peter Rowlands.

Securing 24.2 per cent of votes, Nige Jones beat Sam Thomas in the North Central Ward, where Mitchell Sideris and Trona Young also had strong followings.

Sophie Dwyer defeated Teresa Ritchie in the South Ward by winning more than 57 per cent of votes.

In the South East Ward, John Logan will replace Brian Corr, who retired from the council, after winning 65 per cent of the votes.

With 53.1 per cent of electors backing him, Tom McLean retained his position as North Ward councillor, as did Mike Norman for the South West Ward after he garnered 67.8 per cent of the votes.

Altogether, 20.5 per cent of the 100,690 electors in the City of Wanneroo and an average of 19.7 per cent of the 107,681 electors in the City of Joondalup voted in this year’s election.

Five winners at the Shire of Gingin were Ian Collard, John William Elgin, Frank Peczka, Wayne Fewster and Jan Court, with 38.9 per cent of electors returning votes.