Progress results indicate there will be familiar faces seated around the table at the Central Otago District Council.
Only two newcomers will join the council - Sarah Browne representing the Cromwell Ward and Sally Feinerman for the Teviot Valley Ward.
Both fill seats vacated by outgoing councillors, with remaining sitting councillors re-elected.
First-time candidate Browne led the voting in the Cromwell Ward with 1822 votes - 99 votes ahead of Cheryl Laws (1723).
Already elected to the Cromwell Community Board due to the number of candidates matching the number of seats available, her community board seat will be forfeited, triggering a by-election.
Browne said she was ‘‘thrilled’’ to be elected.
‘‘I’m stoked, I’m looking forward to it,’’ she said.
In the Teviot Valley, Feinerman is no stranger to local government, having served two terms on the Teviot Valley Community Board, including one as deputy chairwoman.
She received 332 votes, 31 votes ahead of Mason Robinson.
Elsewhere, Stu Duncan was elected to the Maniototo Ward unopposed.
Sitting councillors Tamah Alley (2552), Tracy Paterson ( 2538), Martin McPherson (2062), Lynley Claridge (1995) and Ian Cooney were all re-elected to the Vincent Ward.
The mayoralty was uncontested, leaving incumbent Mayor Tim Cadogan in the hot seat for a third term.
‘‘It’s mixed feelings - for me it was fantastic it took a lot of stress away, it took a lot of cost away, but for democracy and for the whole process I’m not sure it’s a good thing the top job isn’t challenged,’’ he said.
‘I’m thrilled to welcome Sally Feinerman and Sarah Browne to Council and to
welcome back all those councillors who stood for re-election.
‘‘I’m looking forward to leading a great team into the future.’’
The voter return rate was 44.55%, being 7675 votes.
The progress result is based upon the counting of about 90% of the returned votes.
Final results will be confirmed on Thursday.
- By Shannon Thomson
