Laura Michell
A countback to fill a vacancy on Whittlesea council will be held just two days before monitor Yehudi Blacher submits his interim report on councillor behaviour to the state government.
The Victorian Electoral Commission will hold a countback for the north ward on Wednesday, March 25 at 10.30am, following the resignation of former councillor Ricky Kirkham.
Mr Blacher is due to hand his interim report to the government on March 27.
Mr Blacher was appointed by Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek in December to examine the governance and operations of the council.
His appointment was at the request of former Chief Municipal Inspector David Wolf, who raised concerns about the activities and actions of councillors and their ability to provide leadership and good governance for the community.
Mr Blacher could recommend the council be sacked.
Mr Kirkham resigned from the council on February 17, saying the current circumstances at council had made it “impossible” for him to discharge his obligations “to hold council to account”.
He was due to face a councillor conduct panel prior to his resignation.
According to the VEC, the countback will involve the redistribution of votes for Mr Kirkham at the October 2016 election to unsuccessful candidates, according to voters’ preferences.
If a candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the votes, they will be elected. If no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the vote, the candidate with the least votes is excluded and their votes are also redistributed. This continues until a candidate can be declared elected.
There are four candidates vying for election to the council: William Sharp, Sasha Nackovski, Kurt Cauchi and former councillor Christine Stow.
If Ms Stow is elected, it will be the second time she was secured a place on council as the result of a countback.
Ms Stow was elected to represent north ward in May 2014 following the death of Cr Nicola Davis. Ms Stow served on the council until the October 2016 election.
