By Violet Li
Independent Carolyn Eaves won the 2024 Casey Council election and will represent Quarters Ward in the next four years.
Ms Eaves addressed the public at the result declaration in Bunjil Place on Friday 8 November.
She said she ran a very low-key campaign and spent only $750.
“It was the issue that got me here and the issue was the previous council and good governance, and I am one for good governance,” she said.
“As a councillor, it’s our job to look after and safeguard the assets of Casey and make sure money is being spent well. I don’t think the previous council did that, and I’m going to make sure I do and answer any questions my community has.”
To be elected in Quarters Ward, a candidate is required to secure an absolute majority vote of 7713.
For the primary vote, Carolyn Eaves topped the race at 3092 votes, and Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce president Ian Wood seconded the place at 2799 votes. Freedom Party member Craig Baird had 2343 votes, Labor member Kuljeet Kaur Robinson 2046, Labor member Aftab Hussain 2043, Labor member Jagdeep Singh Sukhija 1730, David Rolfe 1037, and Ridvan Rasimi 334.
In the first round of the preferential distribution, Ridvan Rasimi’s 334 votes went to the voters’ next preferred candidate. Aftab Hussain received the most at 103 votes.
In the second round of the preferential distribution, David Rolfe’s 1057 votes were distributed among the remaining candidates. Ian Wood was allocated the most at 434 votes. Carolyn Eaves received the second most at 335 votes.
In the third round where Jagdeep Singh Sukhija’s 1805 votes were distributed, Kuljeet Kaur Robinson received a majority of 986 votes and Aftab Hussain was allocated the second most votes at 331.
In the fourth round, Aftab Hussain’s 2525 votes were passed down to the remaining candidates. Kuljeet Kaur Robinson received a majority of 1080 votes. Carolyn Eaves was allocated 548 votes. Aftab Hussain publicly preferenced Kuljeet Kaur Robinson on his how-to-vote card. At the end of the fourth round, Kuljeet Kaur Robinson’s overall votes reached 4236, 3 votes ahead of Carolyn Eaves.
In the fifth round where Craig Baird’s 3083 votes were distributed, Ian Wood and Carolyn Eaves received similar preference votes at 1246 and 1273. Craig Baird and Ian Wood publicly preferenced each other. Kuljeet Kaur Robinson only obtained 564 preference votes in this round and lost the edge, and Carolyn Eaves led the game with 5506 votes, 388 ahead of the second Ian Wood.
In the last round, Carolyn Eaves received a huge number of 3011 votes passed down from Kuljeet Kaur Robinson’s 4800 votes and won the ward with a significant lead of 1610 votes over Ian Wood.
Mr Wood said he was disappointed at the result as he put a lot of work in.
“But I wish the new Quarters Ward councillor Carolyn Eaves all the best,” he said.
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