The council results are in, finally

Joining Geoff Frost, Greg Butler and Cecil Burgess, who had known since Saturday they were safe, will be Jasmin Jones, Michael McManus, Rowena Abbey, Garry Ware, David Needham and Ann Daniel – elected in that order.

The electorate was looking for experience as all former councillors that stood for re-election made the grade.

In a first for the Yass Valley three women will sit on council.

The shire may also have its first female mayor, with Rowena Abbey having previously told the Tribune she would be interested in the top job.

Others in the group of nine that are likely to be eyeing the job are Geoff Frost, David Needham and – after storming into a council seat on first preference votes alone – Cecil Burgess.

After being sworn in, the new councillors will sit in about three week’s time where they will elect the new mayor.

Waiting for the count

Yass Valley residents expected to know the outcome of the count on Wednesday but due to so many preferences to be counted, it took much longer.

It took 18 counts for the last three councillors to be elected.

This isn’t the first time the Yass Valley has experienced the delay in results, with the last election taking several days to be determined.

Former mayor Nic Carmody said that delay was brought to the attention of the state government and NSW Electoral Commission after the last election.

He said it also blew a hole in the budget compared to when council conducted its own count.

“The cost to council was almost double to when council did it themselves,” he said.

He spoke to an enquiry about the difficulties and frustrations experienced in the Yass Valley.

He said it was disappointing nothing had been done about it for this election.