RELAXED AND CONFIDENT: Candidate Lindsay Brown at the Quarterdeck Café, Narooma relaxed and confident that the potential challenge to his election as mayor will be dismissed.
CANDIDATE Lindsay Brown’s demeanour did not match the gloomy, raining conditions outside his favourite hang-out this morning.
Mr Brown said he was confident the potential challenge to the Eurobodalla Shire Council elections by the ERA political party would be dismissed.
He was positive he would be allowed to take the seat of the shire’s mayor after beating his next closest candidate Liz Innes of the ERA (Eurobodalla Ratepayers Association) by 104 votes once preferences were distributed.
“I am in this position because of a democratic process, so all I can do is let democracy run its course,” he said.
“Whatever the result I will work as hard as I can to represent the community as a councillor and will support the mayor whoever it is.
“I look forward to the future and the challenges we face.”
Mr Brown said he was confident in validity of the voting process and the electoral commission was warned by the council before the election of the likely challenges because of the numbers and contentious nature of the campaign.
He said the ERA, which allegedly was challenging the polling process and advice given by electoral commission staff, would also need to find $10,000 in order for a challenge to be launched – the equivalent of $45 per 100 votes.
“I am confident the electoral process worked and let it run its course and the right person will be elected,” he said.
Regardless of the complexities of the preference system, he pointed to his first preference result of 9.4 per cent, coming just behind Fergus Thomson and Graham Scobie.
“I would like to thank the team that supported me and this wonderful community that voted for me across the shire, and I am proud of getting votes from across the shire.”
The full Eurobodalla Shire Council election results, pending the ERA challenge, were expected later today.
ERA challenges
The Eurobodalla Ratepayers Action (ERA) group confirmed yesterday it will call for a recount in the mayoral election, after the final battle came down to a mere 104 votes between Narooma's Lindsay Brown and ERA’s Liz Innes.
Mr Brown, a former councillor, was declared elected after the full distribution of preferences was completed at about 10pm yesterday.
Liz Innes came in a close second, losing by 104 votes.
ERA candidate Milton Leslight confirmed the group was applying to contest the count for a few reasons, including the closeness in votes, and because election staff were “advising” voters incorrectly at pre-polling booths.
The ERA had until today at 4pm to pay the $10,000 and a lodge a written application to the returning officer for a re-count, stating reasons.
It is up to the Electoral Commissioner to decide if a re-count is necessary. If the returning officer does not receive the application by the deadline, Lindsay Brown will be declared mayor.