Three new councillors have been elected to Shellharbour Council. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
In stark contrast to neighbouring Wollongong Council and its Labor Party majority, it’s independents day in Shellharbour Council.
Leading from the top, independent Mayor Chris Homer was easily returned, with almost 60 per cent of the vote.
His closest rival, Labor’s Rob Petreski gained 30 per cent, followed by independent Paul Rankin with almost 10 per cent.
Shortly after the election, Cr Homer told Region Illawarra the result had been “phenomenal”.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
In Ward A, former deputy mayor Kellie Marsh (independent) also easily retained her seat, however her colleague Maree Duffy Moon, who served a term on council, failed in her bid to be re-elected.
Cr Marsh has served on council for 13 years, holding the positions of deputy mayor, mayor and councillor.
Her running mate, Calderwood resident Mitch Ellis, is one of the new faces on council.
In Ward B, independent councillor John Davey was returned, as was Labor’s Moira Hamilton, who’s been a councillor for seven years.
Ward C also elected one Labor and one independent councillor. The ALP’s Lou Stefanovski was elected to council in 2021 and independent Craig Ridding unsuccessfully ran in the 2021 election.
In Ward D, Labor’s Rob Petreski, who unsuccessfully ran for the mayor’s job, will return to council where he was first elected in 2017.
Independent Kane Murphy is the other successful Ward D councillor.
The new council will meet for the first time later this month, when a deputy mayor will be chosen from the eight elected councillors.
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