By TANIA PHILLIPS
THE new-look Southern Downs Council will be sworn in on Wednesday after the poll was declared just before noon on Wednesday 30 March.
Tracy Dobie was confirmed as the mayor, finishing well ahead of her nearest rivals in the poll while another woman, sitting councillor Jo McNally finished on top of the poll for the councillors according to the final figures.
Cr McNally finished with 6842 ahead of new-comer Rod Kelly 6773, returning councillor Cameron Gow 6677, returning councillor Neil Meikeljohn 6630, Yve Stocks 6451, Sheryl Windle 6314, returning councillor Vic Pennisi 6108 and Marika McNicholl 6064.
The council will now feature four returning councillors and four newcomers as well as the new mayor. There will now be four female councillors and four males with Ms Dobie as mayor, giving the Southern Downs Council a female majority for the first time.
“It does look like a good mix,” Mayor-elect Dobie said.
“The experience will stand us in good stead; and the new ideas will mean that we will be looking at the region with fresh eyes.”
Jo McNally said she was very pleased and relieved with the results of the poll and thanked the people of the Southern Downs for their support.
Like Mayor-elect Dobie, Cr McNally believed that the new-look council was a “good mix”.
She said that as a member of the board of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association it was great to see five females on the council this time. She said women make up the majority in the Southern Downs Community and it was nice to have the council reflect that.
“It was a great achievement for Tracy, she won well and wasn’t just over the line,” she said.
Cr McNally said it was definitely a “new council and a new beginning”.
She said she knew that before the election there had been some feeling in the community that they wanted the sitting council to go and she was grateful that she had been given the support to stay on.
New councillor Rod Kelly said he was excited to be part of the new-look council.
“I’m humbled by the support and excited to be elected to represent the Southern Downs region,” he said.
“The new council is a good mix of existing and new councillors of both genders. I look forward to working together as a strong and united “one” team. I congratulate the new mayor and the councillors elected. I offer my best wishes to the other candidates who were unsuccessful.
“They were all such a pleasure to campaign with. To the voters of Southern Downs thank you so much for showing faith in me I will repay you with my commitment during the next four years.”
