Miller leads the polls in Hay, Balranald and Edward River Shire election updates

By Teria Butcher

New candidate for Hay Shire Council, Will Miller is sitting comfortably in the lead with 331 First Preference Votes. 

Outgoing mayor, Carol Oataway polled 296 votes and in third place is Martyn Quinn with 183 votes. Other candidates: Lionel Garner 180, Darren Tapper 125, Geoff Chapman 81, David Townsend 71, Paul Porter 66, John Perry 59 and Steven Young 18. 

Eight councillors will be elected from the 10 candidates. 

Louie Zaffina from Euston leads the poll in First Preference Votes for Balranald Shire Council with 222 votes. Dwaine Scott is a close second on 198, followed by Tracy O’Halloran with 78 votes. 

Other candidates, in order of votes polled: Alison Linnett 69, Ian Lindsay Field and Philip Pippin 60 each, German Ugarte 57, Leigh Byron 32, Patricia Winch 30, Morgan Rasmus 29, Lynda Moss 21, Ron Mengler 15 and Brodie Rayner 12. 

The new Balranald Shire Council, coming out of Administration, will be declared early in October after all postal votes have been counted. Eight of the 13 candidates will make up the new council.

In Edward River Council (Deniliquin), new candidate Kellie Crossley sits on an impressive 949 votes, followed by Ashley Hall 703 and Craig Druitt 698. 

Elected councillors are not expected to be declared until October 2 when all postal votes have been counted.

Above: (left) Brain and Jane Eames prepare to cast their votes in the Hay Council election, while Ted Wythes (right) helped mum Leah on election day.

Images: The Riverine Grazier / Krista Schade.