Saferino Awakyr hands out how to vote cards for Jill Walsh at Dandenong High School on Saturday. 89210 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
By CASEY NEILL
IT was a dramatic finish to Saturday’s City of Greater Dandenong council elections for Red Gum Ward candidates.
Jim Memeti was a clear winner on first preference votes with 3065, followed by Matthew Kirwan with 1854.
But it appeared that Jill Walsh had pipped sitting councillor Angela Long for the final seat by just 45 first preference votes. Dalibor Saula was only 135 votes behind on 1412.
However, Cr Long came out on top after preferences were distributed, 3914 votes to 2646.
Jill Walsh ran as an independent candidate with strong ties to the manufacturing sector who’d worked in Dandenong for 14 years.
Prior to the election she said the council could do more to support manufacturing and that law and order was high on her list of priorities alongside value for money for rates and living in a clean, tidy, multicultural environment.
Angela Long, 61, has lived in Greater Dandenong for 55 years and has more than 12 years’ experience on council.
The Labor Party member said she was “a bit nervous” until she was told the final results on Monday afternoon.
She said she had always made herself available to listen to residents’ concerns and was looking forward to continuing to serve the community.
See page 2 for full election results.
