WAITING GAME: Ron Gander says he is happy to wait for the umpire's decision on his council fate. Photo: JUDE KEOGH. 0910rongander2
WITH eight councillor positions all but set in stone, around six candidates will have to wait until Friday to see if their bid for a seat on Orange City Council is successful.
As counting continues, ticket leaders Ron Gander, Brian Wood and individual Kevin Duffy are all in contention for the final spots on the 12-seat council.
Candidates lower down on the fourth highest scoring tickets: number three on John Davis ticket Michael Gray, fourth on Russell Turner’s ticket Dave Shearing, second on Glenn Taylor’s ticket Cr Jeff Whitton, and second in the Greens group Sarah Buckingham are also possibilities.
The final expectations vary depending on who you talk to.
With preferences yet to be counted Kevin Duffy said the results were still a lottery but tipped Mr Gander and Mr Gray as definites.
“For me there are 10 positions taken and the other two are up for grabs between Jeff Whitton, myself, Brian Wood, Sarah Buckingham and someone else could come from the depths,” he said.
“If people are fair dinkum for voting for independent candidates they would have stuck to the ungrouped ones.
“There’s still hope for a number of candidates, they shouldn’t be disappointed with their performance.”
Mr Duffy said he was extremely happy with the 2.46 per cent first preference vote he had received so far.
“I was last on the list but I’m still in contention,” he said.
“It shows people have had a really good look at the ballot paper.”
Mr Gander was also happy voters had showed faith in him to steer 5.71 per cent of the first preference vote his way.
“I’m quite content with the way things went,” he said.
“I’m happy to sit and wait for the umpire’s decision.”
Despite his group only receiving 4.33 per cent of the first preference vote so far Mr Wood said he was not overly disappointed with the results.
“We’ve had a lot of adverse publicity,” he said.
“It is our first time and we didn’t use the ratepayers [association] as a standing board.”
Mr Wood said he was disappointed John Davis and Russell Turner groups were so successful.
While acknowledging he was just an outside chance, Mr Wood said if he makes it to council he and council staff will have their hands full.
“I wouldn’t sit there like a gnome,” he said.
“Even if I still make it it will be the hard slog because it’s looking like two factions will be on there.”
clare.colley@ruralpress.com