Race for last seat so close

A handful of special votes will decide the winner out of several candidates still vying for a single seat on Carterton District Council.

Newcomers voted on to council at the closing of the polls on Saturday include Greg Lang and Mike Ashby, who will take their place at the council table alongside incumbents John Booth, Jill Greathead, Ruth Carter, Bill Knowles, and Elaine Brazendale.

Colin Wright, chief executive of Carterton District Council, said yesterday there were still about 33 special votes "to be processed" that will determine the race for the eighth council seat among candidates Brian Poulsen, Mike Palmers, Rob Harris and Reverend Jenny Chalmers.

Mr Poulsen on Saturday had scrapped in to council with 955 votes over newcomer challengers Mr Harris on 945, Mr Palmers on 930 and Reverend Chalmers on 914.

But by Sunday, with more than another 200 votes counted, Mr Palmers had secured 1051 votes, ahead of Mr Poulsen at 1043 and Mr Harris at 1039.

Ms Chalmers, at 1019 votes, would have to gain every special vote to gain a seat.

Mr Palmers, who had missed making council by about 100 votes on his first bid in 2010, said he would not "count his chickens before they hatched" and was waiting patiently until the final count was completed.

Mr Harris believed incumbency meant "a lot" to voters and while the preliminary results had closed him out of the race, he was optimistic.

"I'm still not on the council and I have to leap Brian Poulsen to get on, which is asking a lot. But there is still a chance and I'd love to have the opportunity to serve Carterton."

Mr Poulsen, a third-term councillor, said he would "wait and see what happens" with the final few special votes.