Sensational-Adelaide.com

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peas_and_corn wrote:

david wrote: "worts and all"!.

I didn't know you are a brewer!

Lord Mayoral race attracts little interest

Council11 Nov 10 @ 12:00pm by Chloe Kennedy



The decision between Adelaide Lord Mayor candidates (from left) Francis Wong, Stephen Yarwood, Arnie Rossis, Jeffrey Wheare, Crestin Magasdi and Ralph Clarke has not excited potential voters.


THE race to become Adelaide Lord Mayor could be decided by fewer than 5000 people, as city voters shun this week’s local government election.

Only 4411 of the 23,236 people eligible to vote in the City Council poll had bothered to cast their ballot papers as of Tuesday, ahead of tomorrow’s (Friday, November 12) 5pm deadline.

The tally was about five per cent down compared with the same stage of the 2007 elections.

The prize up for the grabs is the chance to shape the city’s future and oversee a annual budget of about $150 million.

The six mayoral candidates - Ralph Clarke, Francis Wong, Stephen Yarwood, Arnie Rossis, Creston Magasdi and Jeffrey Wheare - made a last ditch attempt to sway voters during a live debate earlier this week.

Following the debate, the candidates blamed the low voter turnout on apathy towards councils, a lack of marketing by the State Electoral Commission and a disconnect between councils and their communities.

Cr Clarke said: “I think the reality is people don’t want to vote unless they know the person personally or know their track record”.

Cr Yarwood expected only about 30 per cent of people would end up voting.

“People are not engaged in how local government creates communities and can improve their quality of life,” he said.

Mr Wheare said the voting numbers were “very disappointing”.

“I think it’s a marketing issue by the State Electoral Commission and also the education (of voters),” he said.

Cr Wong said he had spoken to a lot of people who had not received their ballot papers.

“This is the first time I have experienced this issue,” he said.

“I am not sure what the other part is, whether it is election fatigue or what.”

An Electoral Commission spokeswoman told the City Messenger she was not aware of anyone who was eligible to vote not receiving ballot papers in the city.

Mr Rossis and Dr Magasdi did not return calls before the City Messenger press-time.

The election count begins on Saturday (November 13) and the lord mayoral results are expected to be announced later that day.

Prince George wrote:One of the reasons for that will be the change to the electoral roll policies for traders: previously once a trader was on the roll they would remain there without having to do anything, now they have to re-enroll for each election. From the point of view of keeping the roll up to date, it makes sense, but many people were taken by surprise by it.