By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A HANDFUL of Greater Dandenong sitting councillors were battling to retain their seats before the election’s final results last night.
Incumbents Loi Truong, Angela Long, John Kelly and Maria Sampey were awaiting preference counts to decide tight contests in their wards.
Cr Yvonne Herring, who changed wards to support Cr Kelly, looked unlikely to be re-elected.
Of the sitting councillors, Roz Blades, Peter Brown, Youhorn Chea and Jim Memeti appeared to be certain of success as the count of No. 1 votes neared completion.
SEE: Push to end attendance voting.
Regardless of the remaining outcomes, the council is certain to be again Labor-dominated.
In Lightwood ward, it looked like an ALP whitewash. Mayor Chea’s personal vote collapsed from 38 per cent in 2008 to about 28 per cent but he still drew a quota in his own right.
Surprisingly, he was outpolled by ALP member Sean O’Reilly, who has won his first term on the council.
Sitting councillor Loi Truong was locked in a battle with running mate Dang Quach for the third seat.
In Paperbark ward, councillors Blades and Brown, both ALP members, were returned, with lawyer and ALP member Meng Heang Tak likely to fill the third vacancy.
Cr Jim Memeti was re-elected in Red Gum ward, topping the vote — albeit with a reduced 23 per cent compared with 36 per cent in 2008.
He attributed the lower vote to a more modest $2800 campaign and a “tough field” of candidates. “I’m very humbled and privileged,” he said. “I’m the only sitting councillor who has got first on the ticket again.”
The other two spots were likely to be a close fight between Greens candidate Matthew Kirwan (13.7 per cent), Jill Walsh (11.8 per cent), Cr Long (11.6 per cent), Dalibor Saula (10.3 per cent) and possibly Trang Tran (7.7 per cent).
With the help of ALP preferences, Cr Long’s vote was expected to hover around the 25 per cent quota.
In two-seat Silverleaf ward, there were no clear-cut winners before the preference distribution.
Heading the count was Cr Sampey on 23.3 per cent, but well short of a 33 per cent quota and likely to miss out on preferences. She was preferenced last on many candidates’ how-to-vote cards.
Cr Kelly on 17.2 per cent, was well down on his 32.7 per cent result in 2008. Ironically, the former Liberal state candidate was likely to prevail on preferences from ALP-member candidates Barry Long and Nhan Huynh.
GREATER DANDENONG POLL POSITIONS
HOME AND HOSED
Sean O’Reilly (Lightwood, ALP)
* Youhorn Chea (Lightwood, ALP)
* Roz Blades (Paperbark, ALP)
* Peter Brown (Paperbark, ALP)
Meng Heang Tak (Paperbark, ALP)
* Jim Memeti (Red Gum, ALP)
ON A KNIFE-EDGE
* Loi Truong (ALP), Dang Quach (ALP) (Lightwood)
Matthew Kirwan (Greens), *Angela Long (ALP), Jill Walsh, Dalibor Saula (Red Gum, two remaining vacancies)
* Maria Sampey, *John Kelly, Zaynoun Melhem, Nhan Huynh (ALP) (Silverleaf, two vacancies)
* Sitting councillors
For the latest election results, visit vec.vic.gov.au.
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