General News
22 March, 2024
Four Unity councillors likely plus five independents in Cairns
FIVE independents are likely to dominate the Cairns Regional Council chambers with the Unity Team expected to hold four divisions as the official first preference count continues.
As of 3.30pm on Wednesday, in division 2, independent and chamber of commerce vice-president Matthew Tickner has a clear lead of 33.25 per cent (1253) of 3979 votes counted. Second is former councillor John Schilling (17.99 per cent, 718) and third-placed independent Steve Lippingwell (15.19 per cent, 606). He is followed by Unity’s Nikki Giumelli (15.42 per cent, 608), Team Eden’s Kesa Strieby (12.21 per cent, 487) and Community First’s Patricia Courtenay (6.5 per cent, 262).
Popular independent Cathy Zeiger is well out in front in division 3 and should be re-elected with 71.10 per cent of the vote (3267 of 4802 votes counted), ahead of Unity’s Heidi Healy (16.92 per cent, 782) and Community First’s Marisa Sedan (11.98 per cent, 554).
Division four councillor Jeremy Neal (Unity) is leading with 31.8 per cent (1989 of 6571 votes counted), with Team Eden’s Trevor Tim a close second (30.74 per cent, 1922), followed by independents Cate Mahoney (20.85 per cent, 1304) and Shane Cuthbert (16.60 per cent, 1038).
Independent Rob Pyne, who switched to division 5 from division 2, is in front with 32.23 per cent of the count (601 out of 1977 votes counted), with Team Eden’s Emma Gelling (27.35 per cent, 510) second, Unity’s Nathan Lee Long (23.22 per cent, 433) in third (29.37 per cent, 375), then independents Birgit Machnitze (8.63 per cent, 161) and James Coll (8.58 per cent, 160).
Councillor Kristy Vallely (Unity Team) should be returned in division 6 with 39.95 per cent (1404 of 3649 votes counted), with Team Eden’s Shane Trimby second (28.88 per cent, 1015), Community First’s Nicole Sleeman (17.79 per cent, 625) and independent Alan Benn (13.38 per cent, 470).
Independent Anna Middleton is first in division 7 (31.32 per cent, 1382 of 4679 votes counted), with Unity’s Matthew Calanna second (26.15 per cent, 11548), Renee Lees of Community First in third (25.61 per cent, 1130) and Eden’s Ian Moller-Nielsen last with 16.93 per cent (747). (Less than 10 per cent of the preferential count was done by Wednesday afternoon so the unofficial count figures are listed).
Councillor Rhonda Coghlan (Unity) is in front in division 8 (34.34 per cent, 3237 of 10,107 votes counted). Second is Team Eden’s Jo Piggott (27.35 per cent, 2578), followed by Community First’s Phillip Musumeci (20.97 per cent, 1976) and independent Hanah Boon (17.34 per cent, 1634).
Independent councillor Brett Olds will be returning to council headquarters with 77.66 per cent (4923 of 6563 votes counted) ahead of Community First’s Carine Visschers (22.34 per cent, 1416).
