She despatched a textual content message to the Otago Each day Occasions at 10 o’clock tonight, saying merely: “Simply heard. It’s me.”
Cr Barker had been clinging to a slim lead within the mayoralty race, simply forward of Andrew Simms.
The competition seemed too near name after about 85% of the votes had been counted on Saturday and fewer than an hour earlier than the Otago Each day Occasions went to press tonight, the state of affairs had not been up to date. She had a lead of simply 105 votes when greater than 9000 votes had been nonetheless to be counted.
Her lead was prolonged on the preliminary depend by a wholesome margin, she had heard tonight.
Cr Barker mentioned she felt excited, relieved and “exhilarated on the alternative” forward of her.
Mr Simms mentioned on Saturday he was upset to not safe the mayoralty.
Progress outcomes confirmed Mr Simms was the top-polling Dunedin Metropolis Council candidate — a consequence he was “thrilled at”.
It was clear for a lot of the weekend one-term mayor Jules Radich was out. Nonetheless, he would return to town council as a councillor.
Mr Radich completed fourth within the mayoral race and Cr Lee Vandervis was third.
Cr Barker mentioned deputy mayor Cherry Lucas would maintain her function.
“I’ve identified Cherry for a really, very very long time and I belief her implicitly,” Cr Barker mentioned.
Simply over three years in the past, Cr Barker was not sure she would stand once more for council. A pep discuss from her daughter, Charlotte, set her straight, she mentioned.
Progress outcomes had 5 incumbent councillors being swept out.
They had been Andrew Whiley, Carmen Houlahan, Invoice Acklin, Jim O’Malley and Kevin Gilbert.
Property developer Russell Lund and former Dunedin Hospital emergency division head Dr John Chambers will be part of the council.
Doug Corridor was elected and the bolter on to the council was Benedict Ong.
Inexperienced Celebration candidate Mickey Treadwell had been sitting simply outdoors the 14 council positions on progress outcomes, however he made it in on the preliminary depend.
In one other key race within the South, Glyn Lewers misplaced the Queenstown Lakes mayoralty to John Glover.
Mr Glover’s objectives included “beginning the journey to revive belief and to assist communities moderately than hinder them”.
Change swept by means of the district council.
Progress outcomes had 5 incumbent councillors lacking out.
Jock Martin is the Clutha district’s new mayor, after he defeated outgoing deputy mayor Ken Payne.
Mr Martin replaces the long-serving Bryan Cadogan, who didn’t search re-election.
Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley gained by a landslide.
Humbled, thrilled and actually excited was how Mrs Alley described being re-elected.
Gore District Mayor Ben Bell gained a second time period.
He had a wholesome majority over his sole challenger, businesswoman Nicky Davis.
“Three years in the past, individuals voted for change, and now they’ve made a transparent indication they’re liking the momentum and heading in the identical route,” Mr Bell mentioned.
Former Waitaki District deputy mayor Melanie Tavendale will take excessive job from Gary Kircher, who didn’t search re-election.
She defeated three different contenders for the function.
Progress leads to Invercargill had Tom Campbell comfortably away from his nearest rival, Alex Crackett.
Mr Campbell is ready to take over the mayoral chains from Nobby Clark, who didn’t search re-election.
Within the Southland district, Rob Scott was re-elected as mayor, heading off a problem from former mayor Gary Tong.
grant.miller@odt.co.nz
