This morning I spoke briefly to Eastern FM to discuss the process for filling a vacancy on council, given Peter Gurr’s resignation.

The method for filling a vacancy depends as to the whether the council has a multi-member or single member ward structure.

Maroondah now has three wards electing three Councillors each and under this system no by-election is required. Instead the votes that were cast for Peter at the 2008 election are distributed in order of preference and the candidate that receives an absolute majority of these votes (50% + 1) will be deemed elected. The successful candidate will be deemed to be elected for the remainder of this council term.

The counting will be undertaken on the 27th of January after the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) contacts each Arrabri Ward candidate from the 2008 election to confirm whether they wish to be included in the ballot.

Similarly to a standard council election, this process will be undertaken by the Victorian Electoral Commission and is independent of Council.

I ask members of the community to respect Peter’s decision and I wish Peter and his wife Helen all the very best into the future.