By Casey Neill
Greater Dandenong Council could welcome up to four new faces, early results from Saturday’s election show.
Paperbark Ward incumbent councillor Peter Brown is the most at-risk of losing his seat, having attracted just 9.94 per cent of first preference votes.
Candidates in three-councillor wards need to win just over 25 per cent of votes to secure a seat.
With almost 57 per cent of the Paperbark votes counted, newcomer Tim Dark has 17.88 per cent.
Preferences could still get Cr Brown over the line.
They got him through at the 2012 election, but he had already won 19.21 per cent of first preferences on that occasion.
Fellow Paperbark incumbents Roz Blades (22.32 per cent) and mayor Heang Tak (21.55 per cent) should be returned.
In Lightwood Ward, with almost 63 per cent of votes counted, Cr Sean O’Reilly has already claimed victory with 21.27 per cent.
“A heartfelt thank-you to all my family, friends and supporters,” he posted on his Facebook page on Saturday night.
“We endured the dreadful weather to hand out how-to-vote cards today.
“We were freezing and half-soaked by rain most of the time, but we did not take a single vote for granted and convinced enough voters to re-elect me for another four years.”
Youhorn Chea has held onto his Lighwood Ward seat with 32.38 per cent of the vote, and Loi Truong looks likely to follow suit, with 20.75 per cent.
Their nearest rival is Linda Pompeia with 8.76 per cent.
In Red Gum Ward, voters have convincingly returned Jim Memeti (26.57 per cent) and Matthew Kirwan (27.07 per cent).
With 47 per cent of the vote counted, Hayatullah Rahimi (9.14 per cent) could challenge the third incumbent, Angela Long (15.22 per cent).
In Silverleaf Ward, Zaynoun Melhem is almost certain to replace retiree John Kelly.
With 26.11 per cent he’s only about seven per cent shy of claiming a seat in the two-councillor ward.
With almost 59 per cent of the vote counted, sitting Cr Maria Sampey looks likely to hold on to her seat with 22.24 per cent.
But Rhonda Tannous isn’t far behind on 15.75 per cent and could overtake Cr Sampey when preferences are distributed.
The Journal will bring you more results as the count unfolds.
