Rebecca Stephens, Tom Brough and Robert Sutton take lead in Albany council race, half of primary votes counted

Three frontrunners have emerged in the race for Albany’s new council, though the final makeup remains undecided as counting of primary votes continued on Sunday afternoon.

As of midday on Sunday, just over half of the primary votes had been counted for the 23 candidates who are contesting for four vacant councillor positions.

Former Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens currently leads the tally with more than 1200 votes.

She is followed by incumbent councillor and State Liberal hopeful Tom Brough, who has just under 900 votes.

Third position is held by the longest-serving member of the current council, Robert Sutton, who has tallied about 700 votes.

The race for the fourth spot is tightly contested between four candidates.

Outgoing Albany Youth Support Association boss Ian Clarke holds about 570 votes, incumbent councillor Malcolm Traill has about 500 votes, forced adoption advocate Jennifer McRae has received about 470 and ex-One Nation State candidate Michelle Kinsella has just under 400.

Following the top seven are James McFarlane, Gerrit Ballast, Merlyn Moon, Juliet Bateman, Bethany Findlay, Sarah Taylor, Adrian Fry, Delma Baesjou, Caleb Griffiths, Caitlin Rose Moran, Andrea Moss, Tamara Frewen, Amanda Cruse, Fabian Hardey, Lynda Mellows and Melenna Cooper.

The primary vote will be counted twice under the careful eye of scrutineers before preferences are distributed from the candidates with the lowest amount of votes.

More to come.