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Shane Van Styn returned for second term as mayor of City of Greater Geraldton

Geoff VivianGeraldton Guardian
Shane Van Styn was at ease at the beginning of the count of the votes for mayor of City of Greater Geraldton.
Camera IconShane Van Styn was at ease at the beginning of the count of the votes for mayor of City of Greater Geraldton. Credit: Geoff Vivian The Geraldton Guardian

UPDATE: The WA Electoral Commision has reported an error in last night’s unofficial voting figures.

With about half the count now completed, returning officer Michelle Harvey said 9,194 votes had been cast for Council, not 13,422 as reported last night.

Shane Van Styn has been returned for his second term as mayor of the City of Greater Geraldton.

Due to a software error, the vote counting for other council positions has been suspended and will resume at 9am tomorrow.

A photograph of Mr Van Styn hugging his mother Cheryl was posted on the City’s website at 9pm, with a message declaring him re-elected as mayor.

Mr Van Styn has run successful accountancy and security firms, owned two night clubs, and served eight years on council, the last four as mayor.

The other mayoral contenders were Vickie Hablitz, who as Vicki Peterson was City of Geraldton mayor from 2001 to 2008, and Geraldton businessman Nigel Broadhead.

Votes for mayor are counted in the City of Greater Geraldton council elections.
Camera IconVotes for mayor are counted in the City of Greater Geraldton council elections. Credit: Geoff Vivian The Geraldton Guardian

Results are still to be counted for the five vacant council seats.

Sitting councillors Neil McIlwaine, Tarleah Thomas, Bob Hall, Michael Reymond and Simon Keemink are standing for re-election.

Other candidates running for council are Peter Fiorenza, Paul Taylor, Paul Frick, Ronald Ashplant, Kim Parker, Derek Goforth, Jason Steenson, Indre Asmussen and Ronald Bertelsen.

The newly elected mayor and councillors will be sworn in under the Local Government Act 1995 at a special meeting of council on Monday, when councillors will also elect the deputy mayor for the next term of council.

A small crowd watches the counting of votes in the City of Greater Geraldton council elections.
Camera IconA small crowd watches the counting of votes in the City of Greater Geraldton council elections. Credit: Geoff Vivian The Geraldton Guardian

Earlier this evening, a City of Greater Geraldton spokesman said about half of the city’s approximately 26,000 voters returned voting papers.

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