2017 New South Wales mayoral elections

Main article: 2017 New South Wales local elections

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections

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| <- 2012
← 2016 | 9 September 2017 | 2021 ->

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13 of the 33 directly-elected mayors in New South Wales
|  | First party  | Second party

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IND

Leader  | N/A | N/A
Party  | Independents and local groups  | Labor
Last election  | 7 mayors[a] | 3 mayors[a]
Seats before  | 5  | 4
Seats won  | 5 mayors | 4 mayors

* * *

| Third party  | Fourth party
|  |
Leader  | N/A | No leader
Party  | Liberal | Greens
Last election  | 1 mayor[a] | 0 mayors[a]
Seats before  | 2  | 0
Seats won  | 2 mayors  | 0

The 2017 New South Wales mayoral elections were held on 9 September 2017 to elect mayors or lord mayors to 13 of the 46 local government areas (LGAs) up for election in New South Wales. The elections were held as part of the statewide local elections.[1]

While most mayors in New South Wales are elected by councillors at meetings, several choose to have directly-elected (or popularly elected) mayors.[2]

This was the last time the position of mayor of North Sydney was directly-elected, as a referendum held on the same day as the local elections saw 52.4% of residents vote in favour of replacing the election with a vote from councillors. The change came into effect in 2021.[3]

## Background[edit]

### 2014 Willoughby by-election[edit]

Main article: 2014 Willoughby mayoral by-election

On 20 January 2014, Willoughby mayor Pat Reilly (Independent) died in hospital after a short sickness.[4]

Although she finished in third place on first preferences, Independent Liberal candidate Gail Giles-Gidney won the by-election on 12 April with 50.8% of the vote after preference distribution.[5]

### 2014 Newcastle by-election[edit]

Main article: 2014 Newcastle lord mayoral by-election

On 17 August 2014, Newcastle lord mayor Jeff McCloy (Independent) resigned following an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into donations he made to Liberal Party candidates during his tenure as a property developer.[6][7]

The subsequent by-election on 15 November  was won by Labor candidate Nuatali Nelmes.[8]

## Candidates[edit]

Incumbents at the time of the elections are highlighted in bold text.

LGA  | Held by  | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Independent | Others

|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |
Burwood | Labor | John Faker | Joseph Del Duca  |  |  | Lesley Furneaux-Cook (ICV)
Canada Bay | Labor | Angelo Tsirekas | Helen McCaffrey  | Charles Jago  | Daniela Ramondino  |
Hornsby | Liberal | Janelle McIntosh  | Phillip Ruddock | Emma Heyde  | Christine Berman
Mick Gallagher  |
Hunter's Hill | Independent |  | Zac Miles  |  | Mark Bennett
Ross Williams  |
Maitland | Labor | Loretta Baker  | Bob Geoghegan  | John Brown  | Brian Burke
Ken Wethered  | Philip Penfold (PI)
Mosman | Serving Mosman |  |  |  | Simon Menzies
Libby Moline  | Roy Bendall (RFM)
Carolyn Corrigan (SM)
Newcastle | Labor | Nuatali Nelmes | David Compton (disendorsed) | Therese Doyle  | Ron Brown
Kath Elliott
Rod Holding  | Steve O'Brien (SA)
North Sydney | Independent |  |  |  | Zoë Baker
Jilly Gibson
Jessica Keen  | Michael Kong (LDP)
Orange | Independent |  |  | Stephen Nugent  | Kevin Duffy
Ron Gander
Chris Gryllis
Reg Kidd
Tony Mileto
Scott Munro
Paula Townsend  | Russell Turner (Ind. Nat)
Jeff Whitton (Ind. ALP)
Port Stephens | Independent | Des Maslen  |  |  | Geoff Dingle
Sally Dover
Peter Kafer
Ryan Palmer
Steve Tucker  |
The Hills | Liberal | Tony Hay  | Michelle Byrne  |  | Jeff Lowe  | Ray Brown (BAP)
Willoughby | Independent Liberal |  |  |  | Angelo Rozos  | Gail Giles-Gidney (Ind. Lib)
Wollongong | Wollongong Independent  | David Brown  | John Dorahy | Mithra Cox  | Andrew Anthony
Vicki Curran
Warwick Erwin
John Mullan
Greg Petty  | Gordon Bradbery (WI)

### Retiring mayors[edit]

* Peter Blackmore (Independent) − Maitland, announced 17 May 2017[9]
* Steve Russell (Liberal) − Hornsby, announced July 2017[10]
* Bruce McKenzie (Independent) − Port Stephens, announced 9 August 2017[11]
* John Davis (Independent) − Orange, announced 10 August 2017; not directly-elected[12]
* Yvonne Keane (Liberal) − The Hills, announced 2017; not directly-elected[13]
* Peter Abelson (Serving Mosman) − Mosman, announced 2017[14]

## Results[edit]

### Burwood[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Burwood[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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|
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| Labor | John Faker  | 8,403  | 52.6  | +8.3
| Liberal | Joseph Del Duca  | 3,899  | 24.4  | −3.3
| Community Voice | Lesley Furneaux-Cook  | 3,663  | 22.9  | +1.7
Total formal votes  | 15,965  | 97.0  |
Informal votes  |  | 3.0  |
Turnout |  | 79.6  |
| Labor hold | Swing | +8.3 |

### Canada Bay[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Canada Bay[16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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|
|
|

| Labor | Angelo Tsirekas | 17,589  | 39.7  | −9.7
| Liberal | Helen McCaffrey  | 16,513  | 37.3  | −4.1
| Independent | Daniela Ramondino  | 6,101  | 13.8  | +13.8
| Greens | Charles Jago  | 4,117  | 9.3  | +0.0
Total formal votes  | 44,320  | 96.1  |
Informal votes  |  | 3.9  |
Turnout |  | 80.3  |
Two-candidate-preferred result
| Labor | Angelo Tsirekas | 22,083  | 54.9  |
| Liberal | Helen McCaffrey  | 18,177  | 45.1  |
| Labor hold | Swing |  |

### Hornsby[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Hornsby[17][18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Liberal | Phillip Ruddock | 39,325  | 47.8  | +4.8
| Greens | Emma Heyde  | 15,140  | 18.4  | +18.4
| Labor | Janelle McIntosh  | 12,385  | 15.0  | +15.0
| Independent | Christine Berman  | 8,357  | 10.2  | −29.9
| Independent | Mick Gallagher  | 7,126  | 8.7  | −4.6
Total formal votes  | 82,333  | 97.0  |
Informal votes  |  | 3.0  |
Turnout |  | 85.6  |
After distribution of preferences
| Liberal | Phillip Ruddock | 40,143  | 50.9  |
| Greens | Emma Heyde  | 15,839  | 20.1  | +20.1
| Labor | Janelle McIntosh  | 13,022  | 16.5  | +16.5
| Independent | Christine Berman  | 9,824  | 12.5  |
| Liberal hold | Swing |  |

### Hunter's Hill[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Hunter's Hill[19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Liberal | Zac Miles  | 3,228  | 40.2  |
| Independent | Mark Bennett  | 2,527  | 31.5  |
| Independent | Ross Williams  | 2,276  | 28.3  |
Total formal votes  | 8,031  | 96.5  |
Informal votes  |  | 3.5  |
Turnout |  | 83.4  |
Two-candidate-preferred result
| Independent | Mark Bennett  | 3,995  | 54.4  |
| Liberal | Zac Miles  | 3,350  | 45.6  |
| Independent hold | Swing |  |

### Maitland[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Maitland[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Country Labor | Loretta Baker  | 14,674  | 31.4  | +12.2
| Penfold Independents  | Philip Penfold  | 13,160  | 28.2  | +7.1
| Liberal | Bob Geoghegan  | 8,062  | 17.3  | +17.3
| Greens | John Brown  | 2,212  | 4.7  | −1.2
| Independent | Ken Wethered  | 4,546  | 9.7  | +9.7
| Independent | Brian Burke  | 4,082  | 8.7  | +8.7
Total formal votes  | 46,736  | 95.9  |
Informal votes  |  | 4.1  |
Turnout |  | 84.2  |
Two-candidate-preferred result
| Country Labor | Loretta Baker  | 19,771  | 54.8  |
| Penfold Independents  | Philip Penfold  | 16,277  | 45.2  |
| Country Labor gain from Independent | Swing | N/A |

### Mosman[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Mosman[21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Serving Mosman | Carolyn Corrigan  | 5,928  | 39.9  | +11.5
| Residents For Mosman | Roy Bendall  | 4,192  | 27.8  | +6.4
| Independent | Simon Menzies  | 2,971  | 19.7  | +6.3
| Independent | Libby Moline  | 1,975  | 13.1  | +3.4
Total formal votes  | 15,066  | 95.3  |
Informal votes  |  | 4.7  |
Turnout |  | 75.7  |
Two-candidate-preferred result
| Serving Mosman | Carolyn Corrigan  | 7,140  | 56.9  |
| Residents For Mosman | Roy Bendall  | 5,415  | 43.1  |
| Serving Mosman hold | Swing |  |

### Newcastle[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Newcastle[22] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Labor | Nuatali Nelmes | 38,698  | 42.6  | +0.3
| Independent | Kath Elliott  | 18,925  | 20.8  | +20.8
| Greens | Therese Doyle  | 12,123  | 13.3  | −0.7
| Liberal | David Compton (disendorsed) | 11,770  | 12.9  | +12.9
| Independent | Rod Holding  | 4,120  | 4.5  | +2.7
| Independent | Ron Brown  | 3,354  | 3.7  | +3.7
| Socialist Alliance | Steve O'Brien  | 1,909  | 2.1  | +2.1
Total formal votes  | 90,899  | 95.2  |
Informal votes  |  | 4.8  |
Turnout |  | 81.1  |
Three-candidate-preferred result
| Labor | Nuatali Nelmes | 40,027  | 51.8  | +1.0
| Independent | Kath Elliott  | 23,374  | 30.3  | +30.3
| Greens | Therese Doyle  | 13,801  | 17.9  | +0.6
| Labor hold | Swing | +1.0 |

* Changes compared with 2014 Newcastle lord mayoral by-election

### North Sydney[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: North Sydney[23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Independent | Jilly Gibson  | 13,791  | 42.0  | +1.5
| Independent | Zoë Baker  | 9,856  | 30.0  | −3.1
| Independent | Jessica Keen  | 6,510  | 19.8  | +19.8
| Liberal Democrats | Michael Kong  | 2,655  | 8.1  | +8.1
Total formal votes  | 32,812  | 95.4  |
Informal votes  |  | 4.6  |
Turnout |  | 72.6  |
Two-candidate-preferred result
| Independent | Jilly Gibson  | 14,828  | 56.4  |
| Independent | Zoë Baker  | 11,441  | 43.6  |
| Independent hold | Swing |  |

### Orange[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Orange[24] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Independent | Reg Kidd  | 5,196  | 21.9  | +21.9
| Independent National | Russell Turner | 4,522  | 19.0  | +19.0
| Independent | Kevin Duffy  | 2,926  | 12.3  | +12.3
| Independent | Tony Mileto  | 2,017  | 8.5  | +8.5
| Greens | Stephen Nugent  | 1,885  | 7.9  | +7.9
| Independent | Scott Munro  | 1,842  | 7.8  | +7.8
| Independent Labor | Jeff Whitton  | 1,717  | 7.2  | +7.2
| Independent | Paula Townsend  | 1,621  | 6.8  | +6.8
| Independent | Chris Gryllis  | 1,462  | 6.2  | +6.2
| Independent | Ron Gander  | 576  | 2.4  | +2.4
Total formal votes  | 23,764  | 95.4  | N/A
Informal votes  |  | 4.6  | N/A
Turnout |  | 85.5  | N/A
Two-candidate-preferred result
| Independent | Reg Kidd  | 7,159  | 54.1  | +54.1
| Independent National | Russell Turner | 6,084  | 45.9  | +45.9
| Independent win | Swing | N/A |

* This was the first time the position of mayor of Orange was directly-elected
* John Davis (Independent) was the incumbent mayor, having been first elected in 2009

### Port Stephens[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Port Stephens[25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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|
|
|

| Independent | Ryan Palmer  | 15,079  | 35.1  | +35.1
| Independent | Sally Dover  | 7,668  | 17.8  | −11.3
| Independent | Geoff Dingle  | 6,511  | 15.1  | −19.5
| Independent | Steve Tucker  | 6,072  | 14.1  | +14.1
| Country Labor | Des Maslen  | 5,599  | 13.0  | +13.0
| Independent | Peter Kafer  | 2,090  | 4.9  | +4.9
Total formal votes  | 43,019  | 94.5  |
Informal votes  |  | 5.5  |
Turnout |  | 85.0  |
Two-candidate-preferred result
| Independent | Ryan Palmer  | 18,897  | 63.1  | +63.1
| Independent | Sally Dover  | 11,054  | 36.9  | +36.9
| Independent gain from Independent | Swing | N/A |

### The Hills[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: The Hills[26] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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|
|
|

| Liberal | Michelle Byrne  | 53,323  | 61.8  | +61.8
| Labor | Tony Hay  | 18,549  | 21.5  | +21.5
| Independent | Jeff Lowe  | 9,689  | 11.2  | +11.2
| Building Australia | Ray Brown  | 4,701  | 5.4  | +5.4
Total formal votes  | 86,262  | 95.7  | N/A
Informal votes  |  | 4.3  | N/A
Turnout |  | 81.7  | N/A
| Liberal win | Swing | N/A |

* This was the first time the position of mayor of The Hills was directly-elected
* Yvonne Keane (Liberal) was the incumbent mayor, having been elected in 2016[27]

### Willoughby[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Willoughby[28][29] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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|
|
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| Independent Liberal | Gail Giles-Gidney  | 24,713  | 69.5  | +18.7
| Independent Liberal | Angelo Rozos  | 10,869  | 30.5  | +30.5
Total formal votes  | 35,582  | 95.0  | −1.3
Informal votes  |  | 5.0  | +1.3
Turnout |  | 81.0  | +12.3
| Independent Liberal hold | Swing | +18.7 |

* Changes compared with 2014 Willoughby mayoral by-election

### Wollongong[edit]

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Wollongong[30] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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|
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| Wollongong Independents  | Gordon Bradbery | 41,581  | 35.2  | +0.2
| Labor | David Brown  | 32,386  | 27.4  | +8.1
| Liberal | John Dorahy | 19,672  | 16.6  | −6.4
| Greens | Mithra Cox  | 12,291  | 10.4  | +4.7
| Independent | John Mullan  | 4,037  | 3.4  | +3.4
| Independent | Vicki Curran  | 3,280  | 2.8  | +0.4
| Independent | Andrew Anthony  | 1,708  | 1.4  | −0.2
| Independent | Greg Petty  | 1,660  | 1.4  | −0.7
| Independent | Warwick Erwin  | 1,590  | 1.3  | +1.3
Total formal votes  | 118,205  | 95.2  |
Informal votes  |  | 4.8  |
Turnout |  | 82.4  |
Two-candidate-preferred result
| Wollongong Independents  | Gordon Bradbery | 47,465  | 54.2  |
| Labor | David Brown  | 40,067  | 45.8  |
| Wollongong Independents hold | Swing |  |

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ a b c d This does not include mayoralties that were won in 2016 but not up for re-election until 2021.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Results by Local Government Area". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023.
2. ^ "2017 NSW Local Government Elections". ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023.
3. ^ "North Sydney". ABC News.
4. ^ "Mayor of Willoughby Pat Reilly dies". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 January 2014.
5. ^ "Gail Giles-Gidney has beat Stuart Coppock by 288 votes in the Willoughby mayoral by-election". The Daily Telegraph. 16 April 2014.
6. ^ "Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy quits over donations scandal". The Guardian.
7. ^ "Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy quits before being pushed". Sydney Morning Herald.
8. ^ "Newcastle mayoral by-election live". The Tally Room.
9. ^ "Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore will not run for council again". Newcastle Herald. 17 May 2017.
10. ^ "Philip Ruddock returns to politics to run for Mayor of Hornsby amid 'negativity' within Liberal Party". ABC News. 15 August 2017. "Mr Russell announced in July he would step aside and make way for Mr Ruddock to run for the office."
11. ^ "The mayor of Port Stephens Bruce MacKenzie won't stand at September election as he calls time on local government tenure". Port Stephens Examiner. 9 August 2017.
12. ^ "Mayor departs: Orange's long-standing leader John Davis will not re-contest the September council election". Forbes Advocate. 10 August 2017.
13. ^ "The Hills council election, 2017". The Tally Room.
14. ^ "Mosman Mayor Peter Abelson steps down after 13 years of service, proud of his council's continued independence". The Daily Telegraph. 1 September 2017.
15. ^ "Burwood". ABC News.
16. ^ "Canada Bay". ABC News.
17. ^ "Hornsby". ABC News.
18. ^ "Hornsby Distribution of Preferences". New South Wales Electoral Commission.
19. ^ "Hunter's Hill". ABC News.
20. ^ "City of Maitland". ABC News.
21. ^ "Mosman". ABC News.
22. ^ "City of Newcastle". ABC News.
23. ^ "North Sydney". ABC News.
24. ^ "City of Orange". ABC News.
25. ^ "Port Stephens". ABC News.
26. ^ "The Hills Shire". ABC News.
27. ^ "Mayor Keane reflects on 'bonus year' achievements". The Hills Shire Council. 7 September 2017.
28. ^ "City of Willoughby". ABC News.
29. ^ Metcalfe, Caryn (30 November 2017). "Mayor endorsed by Liberals for LGNSW". Gail Giles-Gidney. North Shore Times. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023.
30. ^ "City of Wollongong". ABC News.

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