Anita McInnes
TWO promotional materials for the Gingin local government election – a Gingin Rate Payers Collective flyer and an advertisement for three sitting councillors published in a local newspaper – might confuse voters in different ways.
The Gingin Rate Payers Collective flyer is endorsed by candidate Lincoln Stewart and includes a “how to vote” list of candidates.
The advertisement authorised by three sitting councillors – Wayne Fewster, Andrea Vis and Linda Balcombe – appears right beside the Shire of Gingin’s October Council to Community page, which could imply the shire has endorsed it.
On Monday, Shire of Gingin chief executive officer Aaron Cook said the “Council candidates clarify concerns” advertisement was placed in the Northern Valley News by Cr Wayne Fewster, Cr Andrea Vis and Cr Linda Balcombe.
“This was not supported, paid for or endorsed by the council,’’ he said.
The Department of Local Government has said under optional preferential voting in the Saturday, October 21 local government elections there would be no ‘group voting tickets’.
According to the department a candidate can suggest preferences for another candidate on their campaign material but it is ultimately the voter who decides where, if anywhere, they want their preferences to go.
For the local government elections voters number candidates in the order of their own preference.
Voters do not have to number all the boxes if they don’t want to.
They have the choice to –
- vote for one candidate – by putting a 1 next to their name
- vote for some candidates – by numbering several candidates in the order of their preference
- vote for all candidates – in the order of their preference.
On the Shire of Gingin’s electoral gifts register Mr Stewart has declared that a donation of $2000 has been made to him.
The 2023 Shire of Gingin local government election has been conducted as a postal election by the WA Electoral Commission.
The 12 candidates for the six vacancies to be contested at this election are Linda Balcombe, Wayne Fewster, David Wilkie, Lincoln Stewart, Lindsie Leahy, Karen Rowe, Frank Peczka, Andrea Vis, Nikki Woods, Jason Weeks, Jenni Kenworthy and Mike Agnew.
Gingin candidate responses to political connections and preferences
