Independent Philip Penfold has taken a 223 vote lead on the primary vote over Labor's Loretta Baker in the Maitland mayoral election.
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Cr Baker had led by 366 votes at the close of vote counting on Saturday, but with about 11,000 votes counted on Monday, Cr Penfold had outpolled his opponent by 589 votes.
Cr Penfold said he believed he would win the first past the post race, but preferences have him "a 50/50 chance".
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At 5.30pm on Monday, Cr Penfold had 13,281 votes or 33.21 per cent of the formal vote compared with Cr Baker's 13,058 or 32.65 per cent.
It is increasingly clear that the result will not be known for at least a week or two, with neither leading candidate appearing able to secure a majority on the primary vote.
Preference would then come into play and Cr Baker has an apparent decided advantage with four of the other candidates directing their preferences to her ahead of Cr Penfold.
They account for approximately 12,000 votes at this stage and given the majority of voters vote above the line and do not assign their own preferences they will favor Cr Baker significantly.
Cr Baker said the potentially-decisive preferences were less predictable given COVID-19 rules had limited election materials,
She said in a post to supporters she expected counting to run into "the next week or two".
"I think it is 50/50 at the moment," she said.
The council seems likely to include at least three Penfold independents, with four each from Labor and the Liberals. A final seat in Central Ward is a tight race between the Greens and Penfold's ticket.
2021 MAYORAL VOTE
(Close of voting on Saturday, December 4)
- BROWN John (GRN) 2593 6.48%
- MITCHELL Ben (LIB) 5988 (14.97%)
- BAKER Loretta (ALP) 13,058 (32.65%)
- PENFOLD Philip (IND) 13,281 (33.21%)
- SAFFARI Shahriar (Sean) (IND) 907 (2.27%)
- COOPER Michael (IND) 2635 (6.59%)
- BURKE Brian IND 1,528 (3.82%)
Total Formal Votes Counted 39,990
Total Informal/Other Votes 1661
Progressive Total Votes 41,651
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