Southgate is all set to ‘revive’ Hamilton City Council
By Gurbir Singh:
Last elections runner-up, Paula Southgate has beaten the present incumbent, Andrew King by 3473 votes (as at last count) to be announced as the new Mayor elect of the Hamilton City Council.
Southgate’s closest rival, Andrew King secured 8606 votes. These figures are likely to slightly change with counting still in progress.
In a social media message, the elect-mayor, Paula Southgate has thanked every one for the support.
“Thanks Hamilton. It’s been a long campaign. I have appreciated your encouragement and support along the way. I am elated and humbled by the result. Congratulations to all the other candidates,” she says.
Angela O’Leary, who was one of the top front-runners with Southgate and Andrew King gracefully accepted the progress results.
“Thank you to each and every one of my supporters. Not our day today. While I’m not the Mayor, I am so proud to be your West Ward Councillor for the next term and will continue to serve you all” she posted on her Facebook page.
Andrew King has also thanked Hamiltonians for all their support to him “during the campaign and in the past three years.”
Progress results of the Mayoral candidates (as at today) are:
Paula Southgate: 11079 ; Andrew King: 8606; Angela O’Leary: 6664; Louise Hutt: 2087; Mike West: 1866; James Casson: 1767; Lisa Lewis: 975; Jack Gielen: 318
The following candidates have been provisionally elected as Hamilton City councillors:
East Ward
Mark Bunting, Kesh Naidoo-Rauf, Maxine van Oosten, Margaret Forsyth, Ryan Hamilton, Rob Pascoe
West Ward
Angela O’Leary; Martin Gallagher, Geoff Taylor, Sarah Thomson, Dave Macpherson, Ewan Wilson
However, these results do not include more than 3500 votes received at drive-through voting and ballot boxes across the city today, or any special votes cast since 20 September.
Preliminary results, released tomorrow, will include all votes cast today, but not special votes. Given the high number of votes received today, there is a possibility the results may change.
The final results (preliminary results + all special votes) will be announced on Thursday 17 October.
Hamilton’s vote count as of 11 October in this year’s local government elections exceeded the total number of voters in the 2016 election period. As of 10 October, 33,975 Hamiltonians (33.08% of the 102,714 electors) have voted,