The reality is that Sophie received a convincing 44.7 per cent of votes; Cathy McGowan, an excellent candidate, 31.2 per cent.

In “first past the post” elections, which many support, Sophie would have romped it in.

Sophie lost because of the abysmal vote received by the Labor party candidate.

If Labor had polled second in primary votes, which would be the norm, I suggest that many of Cathy’s preferences would have gone to Sophie, taking into account support she received from aggrieved Nationals and her past allegiances.

Under this scenario Sophie would have won comfortably.

Cathy’s campaign was a credit to her and her supporters, to the detriment of the Labor candidate, whose vote decreased 16.7 per cent.

Almost certainly most of Sophie’s decrease, 7.2 per cent, would have gone to Cathy.

Sophie should be free to pursue the community involvement that she is renowned for and represent the 44 per cent that support her directly, and, the others that perhaps made a protest vote against her forthright representation.

— ANDREW M. BANKS,

Chiltern