Acting Lord Mayor Nick Reece is in a tight race with AFL legend Anthony Koutoufides for Melbourne Lord Mayor, according to early results from Victoria’s recent local government elections.
This comes as candidate Arron Wood bowed out of the race, declaring he will not run again after suffering two election defeats in a row.
Reece is currently leading with 24.3 per cent of the vote after 63,000 ballots have been counted. However, Koutoufides, who has secured 13.8 per cent, may still emerge victorious in the final stages as preference votes are distributed.
Koutoufides continues to pose the most significant challenge to Reece, with the former Carlton player likely to gain from the Liberals’ impressive performance, having placed Team Kouta ahead of Team Reece on their how-to-vote cards.
“We are pleased that our primary vote is well ahead of any others in a Melbourne Cup field of candidates… However, this race will come down to preferences. There is still a long way to go,” a Team Reece spokesman told Herald Sun.
A Team Kouta spokesman said it was “encouraged by the early results.”
“But it’s still the first quarter and there’s lots to play out,” he similarly added.
The official result is set to be announced by the VEC on November 7.
Source: Herald Sun.
