Warragul & Drouin Gazette

Poll declared

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by Yvette Brand Incumbent Gary Blackwood was officially declared winner of the state seat of Narracan at Friday’s poll declaratio­n, making Narracan the safest Liberal held seat in the state.

In an election that saw a significan­t backlash against the Liberal Party across the state, Mr Blackwood suffered a four per cent swing against him, but continues to hold the seat with a 7.2 per cent margin.

ALP candidate Christine Maxfield was endorsed by the party just four weeks out from the election and declared she wanted to make Narracan marginal again.

Two party preferred votes saw Mr Blackwood elected with 57.2 per cent of the vote, compared to Ms Maxfield’s 42.7 per cent, reflecting a four per cent swing to the ALP.

Mr Blackwood’s primary vote was 22,633 votes (51.7 per cent), while Ms Maxfield received 15,586 primary votes (35.6 per cent) which was a six per cent increase on the ALP’s primary vote in Narracan in 2014.

Votes for the other candidates included William Hornstra (Greens) 2581; Carlo Ierfone (independen­t) 1578; and, Guss Lambden 1383.

Of the 46,247 people that voted, just under 18,000 voters lodged their vote at an early voting centre.

At Friday’s poll declaratio­n, VEC returning officer Phillip Robinson said there were still a small number of votes to be counted but they would not affect the overall result.

Mr Blackwood and Mr Ierfone were the only candidates present at the poll declaratio­n.

Mr Blackwood acknowledg­ed Mr Robinson and the VEC staff for the way they managed the election, the early voting centre and 40 polling booths on election day.

He said Mr Robinson and the staff were an important part of democracy and it was great to have local people as part of the process.

He acknowledg­ed all candidates, saying it was good for democracy that voters had a choice.

He thanked Mr Ierfone for having the initiative and courage to put himself out there as an independen­t candidate and give his time to the community.

Mr Blackwood also acknowledg­ed Greens candidate William Hornstra, who at 19 was the youngest candidate. “For a young candidate to take that on for the Greens is a huge thing for him and I commend him for doing it and the experience he has gained.”

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 ??  ?? Electoral returning officer for Narracan Phillip Robinson congratula­tes Gary Blackwood as the successful candidate at Friday’s poll declaratio­n, that also was attended by independen­t candidate Carlo Ierfone.
Electoral returning officer for Narracan Phillip Robinson congratula­tes Gary Blackwood as the successful candidate at Friday’s poll declaratio­n, that also was attended by independen­t candidate Carlo Ierfone.

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