Fresh faces for Whittlesea and Hume councils

 

The Whittlesea community is likely to be represented by five new faces, with one councillor-elect being a 19-year-old.

Provisional results of the October 22 poll have been released by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) and show at least one new representative being elected in each ward.

The results will be finalised by the VEC at a poll declaration at 6pm on Wednesday.

In North ward, former mayor Ricky Kirkham will be re-elected, securing 35 per cent of first preference votes.

He will be joined by newcomers John Butler and 19-year-old Emilia Sterjova.

Ms Sterjova is likely to become Whittlesea’s youngest-ever councillor.

Outgoing councillor Christine Stow appears to have been unsuccessful in seeking re-election.

South-west ward voters appear to have returned ex-councillors Stevan Kozmevski and Kris Pavlidis, who will be joined by Caz Monteleone and former Whittlesea Shire councillor Lawrie Cox.

In South-east ward, Mary Lalios, Sam Alessi and Norm Kelly are re-elected, but Ken Harris won’t be returned, voters preferring Route 86 tram extension campaigner Alahna Desiato.

Results for Hume were finalised on Monday, with the community to be represented by seven new councillors.

Aitken ward voters chose not to re-elect Chandra Bamunusinghe and Alan Bolton, while Casey Nunn did not contest the poll.

Drew Jessop returns and is joined by Joseph Haweil, Jodi Jackson and Carly Moore.

Meadow Valley ward will be represented by veteran councillor Geoff Porter and newcomers Karen Sherry, Jana Taylor and Naim Kurt. Former mayor Adem Atmaca was not re-elected.

Jackson Creek voters returned Jack Medcraft and Ann Potter, who will be joined by police officer Leigh Johnson.

Whittlesea and Hume councillors will be sworn in on Thursday and November 7, respectively, when they will also elect new mayors.