Parkes residents have one week left to make up their minds who to vote for in the Local Government Election on Saturday, 10th September. Twenty candidates will be contesting for the ten Parkes Shire Councillor positions. Of
the 20 candidates, eight are current councillors. Michael Greenwood and Belinda McCorkell are not standing again. The new candidates include an interesting mix of Parkes residents.
The candidates as they appear in order on the ballot for the Parkes Shire are Alan Ward (Parkes), Terri Ann Baxter (Trundle), Rosanne Jones (Parkes), Neil Westcott (Alectown), Danny Blakemore (Parkes), Louise O’Leary (Peak Hill), John Sarikissian (Parkes), Barney Thompson (Parkes), Kenny McGrath (Parkes), Kim Ross (Parkes), George Pratt (Parkes), Craig Smith (Parkes), Bill Jayet (Parkes), Barbara Newton (Tullamore), Greg Peterson (Parkes), Conrad Mill (Parkes), Ken Keith (Parkes), Bob Haddin (Cookamidgera), Wally Biles (Parkes) and Patricia Smith (Parkes).
Councillors will vote to elect the mayor at a special meeting of the new council shortly after the election. Voting is compulsory for all residents of the Parkes Shire who are registered on the electoral roll. Electors enrolled for federal and state elections are automatically enrolled for their local council area.
There is no absentee voting in local government elections. If you are unable to vote on election day, you can vote by either prepoll or postal. Voting on 10th September will be between 8am and 6pm with pollings stations at the Alectown Hall, Bogan Gate Public School, the Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore Central schools, and in Parkes at Middleton Public School, Assemblies of God Hall, Parkes East Public School, and the Little Theatre. The new council will serve for the next four years.
Go to www.votensw.info for more information on the election.