Ex-mayor wins Colac Otway countback
BRIAN Crook’s tumultuous council career has been given a lifeline, with the former mayor reinstated to the Colac Otway Shire.
Mr Crook was the winner of a countback of votes yesterday, and will fill the void left with the resignation of Terry Woodcroft.
The Trinity College teacher will return for his fifth term on the council, which has included two stints as mayor.
Mayor Joe McCracken said Mr Crook would join other councillors once paperwork was completed.
“Brian brings with him a wealth of experience and as a former councillor and mayor will be able to quickly fit back into the organisation and the many tasks we have at hand,” Cr McCracken said.
“I look forward to working alongside Brian over the next two years.”
In a hotly-contested 2016 poll, Mr Crook narrowly missed one of the seven seats, despite receiving more primary votes than Jason Schram.
Now almost two years later, he has seen off main challenger David Germano to win a countback conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission.
His return adds another chapter to Mr Crook’s colourful career with the Colac Otway Shire.
He was sacked by the State Government in 2007 after he and two other councillors left a meeting and refused to vote on a $200 million development plan in Apollo Bay.
However, he was returned by voters at the 2008 general election, before serving another two terms.