Returning officer Darrell Martin announced the WWCC election results at 10:30 am Tuesday 1 October. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) will have three new councillors for the next four-year term, with five of the nine councillors elected being women.
Karissa Subedi, Allana Condron and Lindsay Tanner will serve council for the first time, with Rod Kendall (not running), Dan Hayes (not running) and Mick Henderson (not re-elected) making way.
Joining them will be current WWCC Mayor Dallas Tout and returning councillors Georgie Davies, Amelia Parkins, Tim Kochel, Richard Foley and Jenny McKinnon.
Dallas Tout’s Community First ticket and Tim Koschel’s ticket were the only groups to have two members elected, with Karrisa Subedi (Community First) and Allana Condron being voted in.
“It’s a very positive and overwhelming feeling knowing that I’m going to be on council for the first time, but I know working with this group and my fellow councillors, it will be a positive experience,” Ms Subedi said.
“I hold a lot of different skills that I can bring to the table. I feel my leadership and my health background can provide a really good contribution to critical health decisions for the community.”
Mayor Dallas Tout will be the most experienced councillor of the new group and promised to throw his hat back in the ring to be mayor once again for the upcoming term.
“I’m really excited to be re-elected for two reasons,” Mayor Tout said.
“First, we were a community-based team, and that was really exciting. The four ladies that were on the team with me put in a lot of hard work and the results of that hard work have been seen here today.
“Secondly, and probably more importantly, there are no more groups anymore. There’s no more groups looking to be elected. There are just nine councillors. We now know who the councillors are and it’s now a matter of moving forward as a group.
“I’ve always said the leadership of council spreads between the nine councillors, not just an individual, not a mayor or deputy mayor but as a group of nine.”
Mayor Dallas Tout said he was proud of the work his Community First group put in, and after it was confirmed, he would be joined by running mate Karissa Subedi. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Mayor Tout also acknowledged the work of outgoing councillor Mick Henderson, who was unsuccessful in getting re-elected.
“I also want to thank councillor Mick Henderson for his time on council. I haven’t even looked at the results yet, but I know it would be pretty close, so I’d like to thank him for his contribution as well.”
Mick Henderson ran third on Tim Koschel’s ticket, and while Mr Koschel said it was disappointing that Mr Henerson missed out, he is confident both he and newcomer Allana Condron can deliver on their group’s ambitions.
“I’m a bit sad that Mick didn’t get through,” Mr Koschel said.
“We ran a really good campaign and were able to receive 23 per cent of the vote but were just unable to get three people on.
“I do think where we’ve landed has a good mix of past councillors and new councillors which is really great. We also have a majority of female councillors for what I believe is the first time. I don’t think that has happened in the history of this city, so I’m really looking forward to working with this new group.”
To check the results of the WWCC election, visit the NSW Electoral Commission website here.
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