History is being made in the Wollondilly Shire, with residents voting for their first popularly-elected Mayor and four councillors each in the newly formed North and East wards.
At the end of counting on Saturday night (counting will resume today), 19,474 formal votes from a possible 36,316 enrolments had been counted, with North ward candidate Cr Matthew Gould’s group looking to get their hands on at least two spots.
Cr Gould (pictured) has also so far secured 21.9%of the mayoral vote, trailed by Councillor Judy Hannan with 20.7%.
“The results are beyond my wildest expectations,” Cr Gould told the ABC yesterday.
“I am really shocked. It was a very small campaign, very grass roots. To have performed so very strongly is humbling.”
Cr Gould is a 31-year-old father or three who works as an online communications specialist in the emergency services sector.
“I have lived in the Warragamba/ Silverdale area for my whole life and my connection to the area (and the wider Shire) runs deep,” he said.
“I am deeply humbled to have been given the opportunity by the people of North Ward to represent them on Council and I will work tirelessly to deliver on the vision that I have outlined for our area.”
