EXPRESS The
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
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Too close to call Gilmore edges ahead with postal votes to decide Mayoral race
By Ryan Groube
Tom Gilmore catches his breath at home on Sunday after the November 9 election and, inset, Mick Borzi and his wife Elsa cast their votes. Pictures: Peter Roy
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TOM Gilmore is a narrow frontrunner over Mick Borzi in a Mareeba Shire Council (MSC) election that is set to go down to the wire. At deadline, the Electoral Commission Queensland (ECQ) website showed little more than a percentage point separated the two political warriors. Mr Gilmore had 5,283 votes to Mr Borzi’s 5,136 for a lead of 147. All booths are in and have been counted and recounted, with about 300 outstanding postal ballots to determine the Mayoral race. Postal votes can be received until November 19. Given the tightness of the race the formal announcement of the winner won’t be made until after the final vote comes in. Late on election night, Mr Gilmore held a 247 vote lead with The Express receiving a series of text messages from sources claiming Mr Borzi could not claw back the difference. The Express understands that during the recount on Sunday, 100 votes had been counted for Mr Gilmore instead of Mr Borzi with the margin narrowing. The day after the election, Mr Gilmore said that
should he get over the line the coming two years was pivotal for the future of the Shire. “There has probably never been a more important time in our community’s history. We now must heal that hurt and close the gate on all the things that were said in the past,” he said. “The community must now come together with the one essential goal of making the Mareeba Shire an enormously successful, proud and wonderful place that it has always been.” On Sunday afternoon, Mr Borzi said it was unlikely that he would be able to finish over the top of Mr Gilmore but refused to concede until the final figures came in. “I accept the decision of the voters and at this stage it is highly unlikely that I will win the election,” he said. “I would like to thank all who supported me and ‘Your Team’ throughout the campaign. I have always accepted the jury’s verdict.” The make-up of the rest of the MSC had yet to be determined by deadline with less than 50 per cent of the vote counted. Local Government Minister David Crisafulli spoke to The Express after the election. He said that all elected representatives needed to be ready to “hit the ground running” on January 1, 2014.
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