Wanneroo Council opts not to hold by-election to replace Lara Simpkins

FORMER Wanneroo councillor Lara Simpkins’s South ward seat will remain vacant until the October 2019 local government elections.

The council unanimously decided not to hold an extraordinary election, which could have cost $93,000, at its meeting last night.

Mrs Simpkins resigned from her elected position on September 10, 13 months before her term would end, because her family was moving out of the area.

Chief executive Daniel Simms said the South ward had 38,021 electors at the October 2017 elections and the ratio of electors per ward councillor would increase from 7642 to 9505 as a result of the vacancy.

“It’s always a balancing act between the coverage of that position and the cost to ratepayers,” Cr Brett Treby said.

“We are much better spending any of that money on ratepayers.”