Shire of Brookton vote first time councillor trio and choose new president after local government elections

Shire of Brookton voters have taken a leap of faith and elected three novice councillors to the chamber, with the successful trio being sworn in last Tuesday alongside a new president.

Kerry Toop, Gary Crouch and Peta Harben claimed first-time seats around the table for a four-year term after nudging ahead at the polls in a narrow election race that ended on October 18.

Despite no candidate meeting the first-preference 78 vote quota, Cr Toop charged ahead, collecting 74 ballots, followed by Crs Crouch and Harben for the three vacancies.

The successful trio will join Rod Wallis, Beryl Copping and Lachlan McCabe in the chamber.

All three new councillors will serve until October 20, 2029.

Harold Bell, who hoped to recoup his seat, lost his re-election bid.

Beside him Terry Thorpe and Dudley Eastell were also unsuccessful candidates.

More than a third of eligible voters posted their papers, with 309 of 730 having their say.

This amounts to 42.32 per cent placing their vote, slightly less compared to the 42.57 per cent seen in the extraordinary election in March last year, which appointed Crs Wallis and Copping.

Nominated by shire deputy Tamara de Lange, Cr Wallis was elected unopposed as shire president for a two-year term in the special October 21 council meeting.

WALGA life member and former Brookton shire president Cr Katrina Crute opted to exit the chamber after serving the council for 16 years.