Tom Tate has secured an unprecedented fourth term as Gold Coast Mayor following Saturday’s local government elections.
With 51 per cent of the vote counted on Saturday night, Mayor Tate had recorded over 50 per cent of the first preference vote.
His nearest rival is Eddy Sarroff who had just over 20 per cent while Danielle Dunsmore was running third with 7.5 per cent.
Suspended Councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden is struggling in his attempts to be re-elected.
He is currently running third in Division 7 with Joe Wilkinson leading the vote count with 24.5 per cent of the vote, followed by Jenna Schroeder on 23.9 per cent with Bayldon-Lumsden on 21 per cent.
Councillors Donna Gate, Mark Hammel, Peter Young, Glenn Tozer and Bob la Castra will all be returned in their respective divisions while Brooke Paterson is on track to be re-elected in Division 6 after fighting off a strong challenge from Samantha Delmege.
Darren Taylor will be returned in Division 10 with 58.5 per cent of the vote so far over his only rival Mona Hecke.
Sitting Councillor Gail O’Neill is in a huge fight to retain Division 14.
With almost 30 per cent of the vote counted, she trails Kath Down who has so far recorded 46.3 per cent of first preference votes, compared to Cr O’Neill’s 44.4 per cent.
Naomi Fowler will succeed William Owen-Jones in Division 2, securing over 72 per cent of the vote with around 9 per cent of votes counted.
In Division 11 where only 16 per cent of the vote has been counted, Dan Doran had secured 58 per cent of the vote where is batting with Nicholas Rone to succeed Hermann Vorster.
Nick Marshall leads the race to succeed Pauline Young in Division 12 with 42 per cent of the vote so far, ahead of Cathy Osborne on 30 per cent and Luke Henderson on 28 per cent.
In Division 13, Josh Martin leads Nikki Archer 55-45 with just under 30 per cent of the vote counted.
