Election delivers a mix of old and new

Candidate Jane Mactier with supporters Fred Bell, Robbie McKenzie and James Jackson

17th Sep 2024

Two Guyra candidates are still in the hunt to secure a spot on Armidale Regional Council
following the Local Government Elections which were held on September 14th.
It will be two weeks before the final results are known, however both Eli Imad and Jane Mactier are well placed to secure one of the nine spots on council for the upcoming term.
The Group D ticket, led by
current mayor Sam Coupland, has emerged as the front runners following the initial first preference count. With close to fifty percent of the overall vote they look to have already secured enough votes to get four members of their team elected.
This would mean that Sam, Todd Redwood and Paul Gaddes will serve a second term on council and newcomer Kay Endres will also claim a spot.
By midday Tuesday just over 15,000 votes had been counted with current trends indicating that both Labor’s Susan McMichael and the Greens’ Dorothy Robinson are also in a position to be re-elected.
As the fifth member of the Group D ticket Guyra’s Jane Mactier, is hoping that further counting will go her way.
“While things are looking positive for me in the election, I’m not guaranteed a spot on the council just yet,” Jane said.
“Throughout this journey, I’ve built valuable connections within the community and with incoming councillors, which puts me in a strong position to ensure everyone has a voice.
“I’ve had the privilege of receiving help from previous Guyra councillors, mayors, local stalwarts, and those newer to town who trust me to be a voice for our community. Your trust and support mean the world to me.”
Leading Group C candidate Eli Imad thinks he is ‘pretty much assured’ of a seat at this stage.
Eli believes his team ran a good grassroots campaign in Guyra which has paid off.
“We had major opposition particularly from the mayor’s team which included another Guyra local,” Eli said.
“We ran a strong campaign which laid the ground work for success and I think we rattled the opposition who haven’t seen a good campaign before.”
Eli said that during the campaign he made a lot friendships across the board which he hopes to build on if elected. If he gets in the main matter for urgency in the water quality in Guyra.
Both the Guyra based candidates think it would be good for Guyra to have two representatives. Eli said ‘it will be good to have two people representing the town’ and promised to ‘work together to deliver what is best for Guyra’.
Jane believes that the ‘possibility of two voices speaking up for Guyra is better representation than expected, and it should help pave the way forward for our community.’
Other candidates still in the running for the final spots on council are current councillor Brad Widders and newcomer Jenny Wild who will be looking for second preferences to get them over the line. Group E, led by Rob Taber is also a chance.
Missing out this time around will be Margaret O'Connor after her Group F ticket failed to attract the needed votes.

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Election delivers a mix of old and new

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