A countback to establish a replacement for departed Mount Alexander Shire councillor Tony Bell will take place next month.
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Mr Bell resigned on Monday, suggesting he, and other councillors, had been undermined by shire staff following the council’s decision not to fly a rainbow flag in support of the LGBTIQ community.
Council staff put rainbow flags in the windows of council buildings, namely the Castlemaine town hall and civic centre, following last month’s council meeting, Mr Bell said.
The countback in the Castlemaine ward will take place on November 20 at 11.00 am in the Ray Bradfield Room, Victory Park, Forest Street, Castlemaine.
The Victorian Electoral Commission’s returning officer Charmaine Morel said the 2016 votes will be used in the countback.
“Votes for the vacating councillor are redistributed to unsuccessful candidates according to the voters' preferences,” she said.
A candidate with more than 50 per cent of the votes will be elected.
A postal by-election Tarrengower ward in Mount Alexander Shire Council will be held following the resignation of councillor and former mayor Sharon Telford last week.
A by-election occurs if a councillor in a single councillor ward resigns. Only voters enrolled in Tarrengower ward will be required to vote.
Related: Shire has rainbow flag rethink
The timeline for the by-election will be confirmed following a direction from the Minister for Local Government.
