Barnes and Short wait anxiously
THE decision on who will be the next councillor for Division 5 could go down to the last, with just 150 votes separating the top two contenders.
Challenger Kerry Short has the lead over incumbent councillor Greg Barnes by just over 150 votes, with a little more than 44% of the electoral roll counted in the coastal division so far.
Kris Carter trails behind in third place with just over 18% of the vote, with Frank Mueller in fourth on about 3%.
"At the end of the day we just have to wait," Mr Short said.
"I am obviously happy to be in the position I am in now,
rather than behind."
Mr Short said he knew the race was going to be close.
"Last election, (Cr Barnes) got 47% of the vote so I knew he was going to be hard to beat," he said.
But the retired teacher said he was ready to hit the grounding running if he ended up winning the division.
"I have had a couple of issues raised with me which I will be doing something about if I get in or not," he said.
Cr Barnes said there was nothing he could do now but wait until the final result was known.
"I would have preferred to be in front at this stage," Cr Barnes said.
"I always knew it was going to be close.
"And there are still about 2300 to 2400 votes to come in."
The long-serving councillor said he thought he polled well in the pre-poll and institutional voting, both of which are yet to be counted.
DIVISION 5
Kris Carter - 513 (18.15%)
Greg Barnes - 1039 (36.75%)
Frank Mueller - 84 (2.97%)
Kerry Short - 1191 (42.13%)
Counted - 2921 (44.44%)
