By Mikayla van Loon
There has been little sway in the latest vote counting day as the Yarra Ranges nears the results declaration on Friday.
As of 5pm Wednesday 6 November, three wards remain tightly contested, with candidate preferences coming into play to decide the final victors.
Liberal-identifying candidates are making headway in this council election, with Melba Ward hopeful Mitch Mazzarella (35.03 per cent) trailing incumbent independent Sophie Todorov (38.74 per cent), and Chandler Ward candidate Gareth Ward leading the vote tally (39.44 per cent) ahead of Belinda Grooby (32.71 per cent).
The preferential votes for Chris Templer (Melba) and Ashley Hansen (Chandler) will determine the final outcome in these wards.
Things in Lyster Ward are still too close to call, with the three new candidates each pulling nearly equal weight of the primary vote.
Peter McIlwain has garnered the higher percentage so far with 37.25 per cent, followed by Mick Spruhan on 32.17 per cent and Divesh Sareen on 30.59 per cent.
It’s fairly safe to say that incumbent and 40-year-veteran of serving the council, Len Cox, will return to represent Walling Ward receiving 68.56 per cent of the primary vote in the two-way race against David Ferrier.
In O’Shannassy Ward, fellow long-standing councillor Jim Child leads the vote tally on 45.33 per cent, with the next closest being Karen Duke on 11.60 per cent.
The two-person contest for Streeton Ward has seen two fresh faces vie for the spot but Jeff Marriott has outperformed Sigrid Petersen notching up 61 per cent of the primary vote, confirming him for a term on the council.
And in Billanook, incumbent Tim Heenan (56.28 per cent) has been confirmed over fellow candidate Wendy Wright (43.72 per cent).
At this stage, four incumbents are confirmed, including two uncontested councillors in Richard Higgins and Fiona McAllister.
Todorov and Child remain undecided.
Should Todorov hold her spot at the table and if Grooby happens to pull more votes, female representation on the council will sit at a third, with McAllister confirmed.
But there is a chance McAllister will be the only woman representing the Yarra Ranges Shire should Todorov and Grooby both fall to male candidates.
Star Mail will bring the final results to readers once confirmed on Friday 8 November.
