Abby McKibben has been elected Huon Valley mayor after coming from behind on preferences.
McKibben ran as an independent and won 3,569 first preference votes or 30.1% in the four-way race. She was second behind Mark Jessop on primaries.
The result was confirmed in final Tasmanian Electoral Commission figures as at 9:55am today.
“I’m beyond excited,” McKibben told Pulse. “I’m really proud to represent the Huon Valley as mayor and ready to work for the community.”
Marshall Callaghan was the first candidate excluded and his preferences gave McKibben another 550 votes.
She overtook Jessop on the third count when Greens candidate Paul Gibson was excluded.
His preferences gave her 1,542 votes and lifted her to 5,661, just over the 5,642 needed to win. McKibben praised her closest rival.
“I think Mark would’ve been a great mayor as well,” she said.
“I’m really excited to work with Mark and the rest of the councillors.”
She called it “a really kind, respectful campaign” and said she hoped that would set the tone for the council’s term.
In May, McKibben ran for Labor in the Legislative Council seat of Huon.
She came third with 16.66% of first preferences and independent Clare Glade-Wright won the seat.
She said that campaign helped people across the spread-out valley get to know her. She lives in the far south, almost an hour from Cygnet.
“It’s been a really good opportunity to get out, meet and greet people across the community, but also for people to understand my values and how I would work if I ever had the opportunity to represent them,” she said.
McKibben said the outgoing council had laid “a really solid foundation” after a big period of change.
“Now it’s really time to work on the vision for the Huon Valley and what we need to do to support residents, to support businesses and look at those next economic opportunities for the region,” she said.
McKibben manages community engagement and communications at the Hobart City Council. She also co-owns a native pepper berry farm in Geeveston.
She takes over from Sally Doyle, who was elected mayor in 2022 and did not stand again.
