Candidates in Division 1 

UPDATE 9.57PM:

THE result in Division 1 is still too close to call as vote counting stops for the night.

With 49.84% of the vote counted, incumbent councilor Alan Bush (34.99%) holds a slender lead over Jason Bartels (34.35%).

Greg Messenger is in last with 30.65% of the vote.

Postal and declaration votes are yet to be counted and this division could be closest with only 142 votes separating Bush and Messenger at the half-way mark.

UPDATE 9PM: Alan Bush is holding a slender lead in Division 1 with 49% of the vote counted.

Bush has 34.99% and Jason Bartels has 34.35%. 

Cr Bush said he predicted a close contest and he envisaged the end result won't be known for a few days after postal and polling day declaration votes were counted.  

UPDATE 8.40PM: Alan Bush is still leading Division 1 with 38.41% after five booths of 16 counted.

Greg Messenger is at 28.13%.

UPDATE 8.15pm: 

THE gap has narrowed between Alan Bush and Jason Bartels. 

Bush led the way with 51.97% of the votes but Bartels has closed the gap.

After three booths have been counted Bush leads with 40.69%, ahead of Bartels on 34.64%. Gregg Messenger is last with 24.67%.

UPDATE 7.53PM: ALAN Bush is leading the way in Division 1 with 51.97% of votes.

Jason Bartels follows with 30.26% while Greg Messenger is on 17.76%

One booth out of 16 has so far been counted for this Division.

Jason Bartels, Alan Bush and Greg Messenger - are sitting tight today waiting for results to come in tonight. 

Jason Bartels 

WITH only hours remaining until voting closes Jason Bartels remains optimistic knowing he has put everything in to his campaign.   

"I've been at Moore Park Community Hall all day and friends and family have been spread across the other voting areas," he said.   

"I believe it's going quite well and at this stage it could go either way."  

He said he would be relieved in another two hours when it was all over after campaigning for the last three months.

 "I have given it 100% so know I have given it everything I have," Mr Bartels said.   

Alan Bush

Alan Bush has spent the day moving around polling booths in his electorate and said he remained confident that he would return to office.   

"The whole scenario has gone quite smoothly," Cr Bush said.   

"Of course I can't say too much until the booth close and the votes are counted."  

Greg Messenger     

Greg Messenger said he was feeling very positive after a big day. 

"It will really come down to the wire I think," Mr Messenger said. 

"It's been very good working with all the other candidates and it will be a wait and see."