Rochelle Halstead 32.7% and Ron Bauer 34.9% also shine

THEY might come from two different shire councils, South Gippsland and Bass Coast, but John Schelling and Brett Tessari have at least two things in common, football administration, and popularity in their own communities.

The two councillors from neighbouring shires look like topping the poll again in their respective municipal elections if the provisional count of first preferences is anything to go by.

The other standouts are Rochelle Halstead in the Western Port ward of Bass Coast, stretching from Jam Jerrup in the north to Korumburra Road and the streets of Wonthaggi North, and Ron Bauer on Phillip Island.

And the scale of their respective following with the voters looks like dragging one or two candidates with them over the line, when the votes that are excess to their own quotas are distributed elsewhere.

John Schelling already has 2028 of the 5583 votes counted so far in Tarwin Valley (South Gippsland) or 36.3%, Brett Tessari 2089 of the 8057 in Bunurong (Bass Coast) or 25.9%, Rochelle Halstead 2439 of the 7461 counted in Western Port (Bass Coast) 32.7% and Ron Bauer 2606 of the 7466 votes counted or 34.9%.

South Gippsland

At the close of counting in the Tarwin Valley ward of the South Gippsland Shire, John Schelling with 2028 votes was easily out in front from the Mayor Clare Williams on 1470 with the ousted former mayor Don Hill next best on 721.

This is where it gets interesting in Tarwin Valley. While John Schelling and possibly Clare Williams will achieve “a quota” on first preferences, it is by no means clear who will win the third seat in Tarwin Valley.

Despite being back in the pack Rosemary Cousin 488 and Brad Snell 447 still rate an even chance of catching and overtaking Mr Hill after John Schelling’s excess votes and the preferences from Kathleen Murray 222 and Aaron Taylor 207 are distributed.

Local pundits are tipping Rosemary Cousin to be returned to council but it wouldn’t surprise to see either Brad Snell or Don Hill get up.

Elsewhere in South Gippsland, sitting Coastal Promontory councillors Scott Rae 1525 and Sarah Gilligan 1364 have polled well on first preferences counted to date, with Steve Finley next best on 1254 votes.

They look to have a mortgage on the three places there.

In Strzelecki; Nathan Hersey 1582, John Kennedy 1417 and Bron Beech 1321 are well out in front and you wouldn’t expect to see either sitting councillor Jenni Keerie on 684 or former mayor Jim Forbes 792 getting up from there.

Coastal Promontory

• Emma McKay 789

• Steve Finley 1254
• Sarah Gilligan 1364
• Scott Rae 1525
• Michael Poore 320
• Total counted 5252

Strzelecki

• Nathan Hersey 1582
• Bron Beech 1321
• Jenni Keerie 684
• Jim Forbes 792
• John Kennedy 1417
• Total counted 5796

Tarwin Valley

• John Schelling 2028
• Clare Williams 1470
• Rosemary Cousin 488
• Brad Snell 447
• Kathleen Murray 222
• Aaron Taylor 207
• Don Hill 721
• Total counted 5583

Bass Coast

In Bass Coast, Brett Tessari 2089 was strongly out in front after 8057 first preference votes were counted in Bunurong ward, and he’ll certainly be elected again.

But any one of the Greens’ candidate Mat Morgan on 1454 votes, sitting Bunurong councillor Leticia Laing 1291 or former South Gippsland councillor Meg Edwards 1030 could fill the other two seats.

It’s a virtual certainty that either one of Leticia Laing or Mat Morgan will win a seat on the council but it’s harder for them both to win through as they are splitting the left vote between them.

If the preferences of one or other of them are ultimately distributed, Meg Edwards might win the third seat but that’s unlikely to be known until the button is pressed on the preferences computer on Thursday afternoon next week, November 7.

In the Island ward, Ron Bauer 2606 easily gets elected again and Tim O’Brien is nicely out in front on 993 votes but any one of the others; Darrell Silva 555, Marnie Chadwick 870, Tracey Bell 850, David Rooks 869, or John Trigt 723.

In Western Port, where deputy mayor Rochelle Halstead commands 32.7% of the vote so far, Jon Temby 1239 and Jan Thompson 1083 look best placed to win the other two seats from Nicole Shellekens 939, Glenda Minty 887 and Brian O’Farrell 878 but once again, it will come down to the distribution of preferences on Wednesday afternoon, November 7.

The counting of ‘Group B’ or late-arriving votes, will continue on Wednesday after Melbourne Cup Day, data entry will continue on Thursday morning and the final count conducted at 3pm on Thursday, November 7.

Bunurong

• Caitlyn Robertson 499
• Brett Tessari 2089
• Meg Edwards 1030
• Pru Scholtes 381
• Brian Robinson 607
• Eddie Halaijian 256
• Mat Morgan 1454
• Leticia Laing 1291
• Les Larke 450
• Total votes counted 8057

Island

• Ron Bauer 2606
• Darrell Silva 555
• Marnie Chadwick 870
• Tracey Bell 850
• David Rooks 869
• John Trigt 723
• Tim O’Brien 993
• Total counted 7466

Western Port

• Jon Temby 1235
• Rochelle Halstead 2439
• Glenda Minty 887
• Brian O’Farrell 878
• Nikole Shellekens 939
• Jan Thompson 1083
• Total counted 7481.