Chris Homer at a playground in Shellharbour. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
Incumbent Independent Mayor Chris Homer is poised for re-election in Shellharbour, taking a decisive lead against his two opponents in the NSW Local Government elections.
Cr Homer has taken a strong lead for the top job with 60 per cent of the vote, compared to the ALP’s Rob Petreski at 30 per cent and Independent Paul Rankin with nine per cent.
After watching from the Albion Park Bowling Club on Saturday night following “a robust and sometimes bruising election campaign”, he described the result so far as “phenomenal”.
“I’m so pleased because I gave the election campaign 100 per cent, as I did my role, and it’s been reflected in the vote,” he said.
“You can see Shellharbour is moving forward and, more importantly, that the political change from 2021 from being in the grip of the Labor Party for decades has been successful.
“I’m in a space right now where I’m content with my role and extremely grateful for the support of the community and that it’s been recognised that I’ve really worked hard for them.”
He said it was a difficult campaign being up against a major political party, but it was different from when he ran in 2021, after coming off the back of the largest community campaign in Shellharbour’s history saving the surf ecosystem “The Farm” in the Killalea State Park from a development project.
“I was obviously far more knowledgeable about Shellharbour, about council, about government, bureaucracy, the whole thing and that was also reflected in my campaigning,” he said.
“It was a pleasing acknowledgement of the fact I’m not just the guy that can save a state park and a national surf reserve.
“I’m also now a mayor of a city that can be seen as getting the job done.”
While votes are still being counted, Councillor Homer said he had loved the role of mayor more than he had anticipated and looked forward to the opportunity for a full four-year term, after only serving two years and nine months due to COVID.
“I want Shellharbour people to know I love this town, I love my constituents, and it’s all about coming from a heart-based position of putting them first and doing everything I can to make sure they’re well represented and their ratepayer dollar acts like two,” he said.
“We can move forward and take not only Shellharbour, but this whole Illawarra region forward because I work collaboratively with my fellow mayors and we were well known for that,” he said of the Illawarra Shoalhaven mayors’ relationships.
Meanwhile, in Ward A, Independent lead candidate Cr Kellie Marsh has taken a strong lead with 64 per cent of the vote, with Labor led by Cr Maree Duffy-Moon trailing with 35 per cent.
Ward B numbers are neck and neck between Labor’s Cr Moira Hamilton and Independent’s Cr John Davey, with similar in Ward C with Labor’s Cr Lou Stefanovski and, if Cr Homer takes the mayoral position, the number two on his ticket.
In Ward D, there were three lead candidates for the two seats, with ALP’s Rob Petreski leading with 51 per cent, followed closely by new Independent Kane Murphy at 39 per cent and Independent Paul Rankin, who was looking to return after a stint away from council, with eight per cent of the vote.
Votes are still being counted.
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