Chaffey ward residents will have a new councillor by the end of the month.
The Victorian Electoral Commission will hold a countback on Thursday, October 24, to appoint a replacement for Shane Bourke, who resigned from Wyndham council last Tuesday.
Mr Bourke, who was first elected to council 25 years ago and served as mayor five times, said he was quitting because he was not sure he could continue to make a difference to the community.
He also cited difficulties with recent council decisions and issues.
“While I am supportive of the decision-making process in general and the views of others, I have been left questioning whether I am still able to a make a positive difference for the wider community,” he said.
Mr Bourke had served 11 months of his four-year term on council after being re-elected last October with more than 6000 votes. VEC returning officer Mary Noonan said all Chaffey ward candidates who were unsuccessful at last October’s election would be included in the countback.
She said only Mr Bourke’s votes would be recounted and distributed among the other candidates according to preferences.
Mr Bourke ran for council alongside deputy mayor Marie Brittan, former mayor Kim McAliney and ex-police officer Michele Wharrie.
Ms McAliney was the last candidate eliminated from the count in October. As reported by the Weekly, she is unsure if she will return to council should she win the countback.
Former councillor Marcel Mahfoud, the second-last candidate knocked out, said while he didn’t expect to win, he was
“100 per cent ready” to return if the numbers fell his way.
The countback will be held four days before the October council meeting and two weeks before the mayoral election.
