Rebecca Stephens, Tom Brough and Robert Sutton take lead in Albany council race, half of primary votes counted

Three frontrunners have emerged in the race for Albany’s new council, though the final make-up remains undecided as counting of primary votes continued on Sunday afternoon.

As of midday on Sunday, just more than half of the primary votes had been counted for the 23 candidates who are contesting four vacant councillor positions.

Former Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens was leading the tally with more than 1200 votes.

She was followed by incumbent councillor and State Liberal hopeful Tom Brough, on just under 900 votes.

Third position was held by the longest-serving member of the current council, Robert Sutton, who had tallied about 700 votes.

The race for the fourth spot was tightly contested between four candidates.

Outgoing Albany Youth Support Association boss Ian Clarke was holding about 570 votes, incumbent councillor Malcolm Traill was on about 500 votes, forced adoption advocate Jennifer McRae on about 470 and ex-One Nation State candidate Michelle Kinsella on just under 400.

Following the top seven are James McFarlane, Gerrit Ballast, Merlyn Moon, Juliet Bateman, Bethany Findlay, Sarah Taylor, Adrian Fry, Delma Baesjou, Caleb Griffiths, Caitlin Rose Moran, Andrea Moss, Tamara Frewen, Amanda Cruse, Fabian Hardey, Lynda Mellows and Melenna Cooper.

The primary vote will be counted twice under the careful eye of scrutineers before preferences are distributed from the candidates with the lowest amount of votes.

More to come.