Shire of Waroona’s five council seats filled following Saturday’s election

The five vaccant seats in the Shire of Waroona council chambers have been filled with a mix of returning councillors and some new faces set to represent the community.

Shire president Mike Walmsley and councillor Larry Scott were re-elected on Saturday night and will be joined in chambers by new councillors Julie Marie Rowles, Brad Vitale and Karlie Bartle.

Candidates Michelle Field, Kirsten Smith, Carl Carulli, Jenny McNamara and Mike Sinclair missed out.

The local government election looked a little different in Waroona this year, with the shire opting for an in-person election rather than one conducted by postal votes, as used by majority of local government areas.

Less than 20 per cent of electors in the region voted.

From the 3656 electors, only 630 votes were cast, with five of them informal.

Leading the first preference count was Cr Walmsley who polled 229 votes., followed by Cr Vitale who polled 79 first preference votes.

Cr Rowles was close behind with 77 votes, followed by Cr Bartle on 53 and Cr Scott on 42.

But the optional preferential voting system shifted the order.

While Cr Walmsley was the first to reach the quota of 105 votes, it was Cr Scott who was the second to cross the line with Cr Rowles third, followed by Cr Vitale and Cr Bartle.

The fifth to be elected, Cr Bartle will hold a half-term position expiring in October 2027 while the other four will each hold a full-term position expiring in October 2029.