Gingin councillor-elect declines to take seat on the council

IN a move that surprised residents a candidate in the Gingin local government election has declined taking a seat on the council despite winning the third highest number of votes.

Incumbent president and councillor Linda Balcombe received the highest number of votes in the October 18 election followed by Craig Hyne, Maarten Kornaat and David Wilkie.

In a statement the Shire of Gingin said prior to the swearing in ceremony before Justice of the Peace Margaret Greenwell on October 21 Mr Kornaat formally declined the position of councillor.

“As such, the next highest polling candidate, Mr Robert Kestel was invited to fill the vacancy and accepted,’’ the statement said.

Western Australian Electoral Commission coordinator engagement and communication spokeswoman Anthea Macrides said under the Local Government Act the extraordinary vacancy could be filled without an extraordinary election by the first unelected candidate from the October 18 Gingin election.

“For this election Robert Kestel was the first unelected candidate,’’ she said.

At its October 21 ordinary council meeting the councillors re-elected Cr Balcombe as shire president and Cr Frank Peczka was elected deputy shire president.

Prior to nominating for council Mr Kornaat was announced as the Trumpet of Patriots candidate for the seat of Durack, which includes the Shire of Gingin, in the May 3  federal election.

According to the Trumpet of Patriots website key policies for the May 2025 federal election were democracy, individual freedoms, free speech, reducing government intrusion in people’s lives, breaking the duopoly, real choice and real liberty.

The seat of Durack was won by the Liberal Party’s Melissa Price.

On Wednesday, October 29 Mr Kornaat told Yanchep News Online he declined the position for private reasons.