Will Perry has been elected Kingborough’s deputy mayor with more than half the vote after preferences and says fixing the council’s planning delays is his first job.
Tasmanian Electoral Commission figures released on Friday show Perry won with 50.9% of the vote after preferences. Kaspar Deane finished second on 26.9%.
In the mayoral race, Jo Westwood was elected mayor, beating Aldo Antolli 57.2% to 42.8% in the final count.
Perry led the field of seven deputy mayor candidates from the first count, with 39.3% of first preferences.
He told Pulse in a statement it was the “highest-ever first preference vote” for the role.
“It was clear that we needed change in Kingborough,” he said.
Perry’s campaign drew attention early when he planted a flower in a pothole. He said residents had been waiting months for the council to respond.
He said his campaign page had since had 2.5 million views and reached 365,000 people.
Perry said improving the council’s planning system would be his first focus.
“We desperately need planning that works for people – not against them,” he said.
“Kingborough has a reputation for not getting things done.”
“Long delays impact young families wanting to build their first home, local tradies wait and wait for work and it ends up with businesses deciding it’s simply easier to invest anywhere else.”
He has pledged to lead a ‘Fairer Planning Taskforce’ to implement the 45 recommendations of a recent external review of the council’s planning function.
“The review recommendations must be implemented as soon as possible,” he said.
He also proposed a roundtable with architects, builders, engineers and consultants.
Perry, a Howden local who runs a freight logistics business, said voters in smaller towns had told him they felt overlooked.
“Of course Kingston is important – but Kingborough is much bigger than just Kingston,” he said.
“People in regional Kingborough pay rates like everyone else and they reasonably expect fair investment in the services and facilities in their local community. We must get the basics right first.”
“I look forward to working with council colleagues to drive the changes Kingborough desperately needs.”
