Low turnout as Joondalup and Wanneroo council election results tallied

VOTES are being counted for the Joondalup and Wanneroo council elections, where less than a quarter of electors returned postal ballots.

According to the WA Electoral Commission, about 22.7 per cent of Joondalup and 22.3 per cent of Wanneroo voting packages were returned by October 19.

UPDATE, 10.25pm: Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts secured a third term at the helm, winning 68.82 per cent, or 18,562 of the 26,973 ballots returned against her opponent and North Coast Ward Councillor Sonet Coetzee.

North Coast Ward Councillor Natalie Sangalli has retained her seat with 5013, or 25.78 per cent, of the 11,226 ballots returned, while Russell Driver lost his to Yanchep resident Chris Baker, who won 5663, or 29.13 per cent of votes cast for the six candidates.

During the campaign, the former State Liberal MP said his focus was “to get more things done”.

In the Central Ward, Frank Cvitan retained his seat after securing 17.85 per cent, or 2444 of the 7482 formal ballots returned for the nine candidates.

Samantha Fenn lost her Central Ward seat to Wanneroo resident Jacqueline Huntley, who received 2215 votes and said she wanted to be the “your voice”.

Wanneroo’s longest serving Councillor Brett Treby retained his South Ward seat after winning 13.43 per cent, or 3105, of the votes returned for the 12 candidates.

The two vacant South Ward seats will be filled by Darch lawyer Vinh Nguyen, who secured 11.42 per cent or 2641 votes, and Glynis Parker, a former councillor, who won 11.32 per cent or 2619 votes.

Mr Nguyen said his campaign focused on community safety, seniors, youth and local employment, while Mrs Parker said she wanted to make the City “safer, stronger, flexible” and to facilitate change.

EARLIER: The first count finished was for the Joondalup’s North Ward, where Tom McLean retained his seat with 2640 votes, or 54.66 per cent of the 4830 ballots returned for three candidates.

Cr McLean has served on the council since 2006 and this term will expire in 2023.

Newcomer John Raftis, of Duncraig, won Joondalup’s South-West Ward seat with 1540 votes, or 36.39 per cent of the 4232 votes cast for the seven candidates.

Prior to the election, the Liberal Party  Sorrento-Duncraig branch president said his campaign focus was on freezing rates and reinstating kerbside collections.

Another newcomer Suzanne Thompson was declared winner for the South Ward, winning support from 1700, or 44.2 per cent of the 3846 electors who returned valid ballots for six candidates.

The Duncraig resident said she would be “putting our community’s needs first” during her campaign.

Central Ward Councillor Russell Poliwka retained his seat for a second term with 2035, or 50.5 per cent, of the 4030 votes returned for four candidates.

Nige Jones also retained his seat in the North-Central Ward for a second term after receiving 1244, or 23.79 per cent, of the 5229 votes cast for the seven candidates.

In the South-East Ward, John Logan also secured another term with 1631, or 44.89 per cent, of the 3633 votes returned for four candidates.