Final results have also been posted for the City of Moonee Valley in Melbourne’s inner north-west, which has been riven by turmoil and instability over the past four years.
Outgoing Labor-aligned mayor Pierce Tyson has already conceded in Steele Creek ward (Airport West/Niddrie).
Moonee Valley’s Pierce Tyson and Rose Iser.Credit: Simon Schluter
After preferences, he received 38.62 per cent of votes, going down to independent Samantha Byrne, also a member of the previous council.
Deputy mayor Narelle Sharpe didn’t fare any better. Sharpe (3606 votes after preferences) was defeated in Buckley ward by former Essendon premiership ruckman John Barnes (4790 votes), who was endorsed by the Liberals. Barnes campaigned against the Allan government’s plan for high-density housing in Essendon North and Niddrie.
Ex-AFL footballer John Barnes has been elected to Moonee Valley city council, promising to fight plans for more apartment buildings.Credit: Daniel Pockett
Former mayor and independent John Sipek won a relatively close count in Milleara ward (Keilor East) with 4688 votes after preferences, defeating Jessica O’Neil with 4068 votes.
Incumbent independent Ava Adams won in Queens Park ward (Moonee Ponds), knocking out fellow incumbent Jacob Bettio, who along with Sharpe was found by IBAC last month to have used his position on council to influence decisions in favour of a local sports club, at the expense of other clubs.
Labor-aligned Rose Iser was comfortably returned to council in Myrnong ward (Flemington). Iser had 3853 votes after distribution, ahead of nearest rivals Jodie Kinnersley (2124 votes) and Cameron Smith (1540 votes).
Elsewhere, Liberal member Hamish Jones won in Airport ward (Strathmore) defeating long-serving councillor and former mayor Jan Chantry, by 4319 votes to 3753 after preferences.
Jones posted a grainy pic of a pot of beer to his Facebook page and said he was looking forward to the Cox Plate after the voting deadline passed.
Labor candidate Paula Theocarides won over Jacob Hvezda by just nine votes in Canning ward (Avondale Heights) after preferences.
Phil Burn, also aligned with Labor, won easily in Fairbairn ward (Ascot Vale), with 62.32 per cent of votes after preferences.
Labor’s Fran Cosgriff won in Woodlands ward (Essendon), with 4339 votes to Jason Bryant’s 3303 votes after distribution of preferences.