Numurkah based businessman John Bietzel is in the box seat to be elected on Moira Shire Council on a countback but is still unsure if he will accept if successful.
A countback procedure to fill another extraordinary vacancy within Moira Shire Council will take place at 10am next Wednesday, January 19, following the resignation of Councillor Marie Martin.
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Yarrawonga resident Judy Heather was officially elected to Moira Shire Council after a countback procedure on December 14, 2021 to fill the first extraordinary vacancy of Kevin Bourke’s seat by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).
Judy Heather became the fifth eastern shire-based councillor alongside Peter Mansfield, Peter Elliott, Julie Brooks and Peter Lawless giving the Yarrawonga region a majority representation on the 9 seated council.
And it could be six eastern shire based councillors after the January 19 countback.
Numurkah based councillor and businessman John Beitzel remains a front runner to fill Marie Martin’s seat based on the 2020 election first preference votes, but he is still undecided if we will accept a position on council should he be successful on a countback. Other Yarrawonga based candidates Wendy Buck and Geoff Campbell are also in the picture.
Mr Bietzel told the Chronicle recently he was “50/50” on whether he would accept the position on council should he be successful in the countback.
Yarrawonga based candidates Geoff Campbell and Wendy Buck both had strong first preference votes at the 2020 Moira Shire Council Elections, and are happy to take on the job if successful in a countback after recent resignations on council.
“It’s a big responsibility and if the opportunity arises, I will have to discuss it with my wife, my two boys and my business partners,” he said.
“I feel there is an obligation to stand to represent this western side of the shire since we lost Kevin (Bourke) and Marie (Martin).
“But I will decide when and if the opportunity arises,” he said.
Former Yarrawonga Shire Councillor Geoff Campbell and previous Moira Shire Councillor Wendy Buck both said they would be happy to put their hand up again for a council position should they be successful in a countback. Both candidates were very close in first preference votes in 2020 and Wendy Buck had a stronger hand after the countback process in December.
The vacancy for Marie Martin will again be filled by a countback of all formal votes from the 2020 Moira Shire Council election (instead of voters voting in a by-election).
Votes will be redistributed to candidates who were unsuccessful at that general election, and who remain eligible to participate in the countback, to fill the extraordinary vacancy.
The two shock resignations of Moira Shire Councillors Kevin Bourke from Nathalia and Numurkah based Marie Martin has meant two unsuccessful candidates from the 2020 election will be elected after countbacks.
The VEC has confirmed the countback for Marie Martin’s position will be conducted at 10am on January 19.
Councillor Ed Cox filled an extraordinary vacancy in January last year after the tragic death of Councillor Andrew Goldman from a helicopter crash on December 2, 2020.
