Ruapehu Mayor Cameron extends lead and gets five new Councillors

The preliminary voter returns show Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron has increased his election day count by 162 votes to 1,616.

This is well ahead of his closest rival Jacques Windell who stood with the campaign slogan of “TLC Set Us Free” with 685 votes.

Preliminary results show that Ruapehu District Council will be getting five new councillors.

In the Taumarunui Ward there will be three new councillors currently being; Kim Wheeler (1,174), Adie Doyle (938) and Jacques Windell (690) who stood for both mayor and council.

The preliminary results do not include Special Votes and with only 11 votes between Windell and the next Taumarunui Ward candidate Mike Gibbs (679) the final Taumarunui Ward councillor position may change.

In National Park Ward Murray Wilson (195) returns to Council having been a Councillor two terms ago.

In Waimarino-Waiouru there is one new councillor being Vivienne Hoeta (649).

The final confirmed count is expected mid-week.

The newly elected members will be introduced to Council and meet Council staff on Tuesday 25 October.

The first formal Council meeting will be on Tuesday 1 November when all elected members will be sworn-in.

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