The trend of city-based councillors at Wangaratta looks set to be reversed after first preference votes in the wards were released.
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Votes in the Warby ward are set to go down to the wire between front runners Mark Currie and Stephen Hill.
Mr Currie led by just 40 votes after 73.57 per cent of the total was counted on Wednesday, leaving the result resting with the remaining 926 votes.
Wards were reintroduced to the Rural City of Wangaratta this year on the back of a push for better rural representation.
Harvey Benton was on track to knock out his two opponents in the North ward on first preferences alone.
The Springhurst sheep farmer, who lives in the far north of the electorate, had claimed 54.87 per cent of the votes as of Wednesday.
With just under 1000 votes left to count, his closest candidate Lauren McCully needed to make up a gap of 570 votes.
Mr Benton told The Border Mail the count looked positive, but “there’s no good huffing and puffing about it” just yet.
He said if elected, he would “ruffle a few feathers” to ensure the rural voice was heard after three years of administrators.
“With corporate-style government they’ve had, communications has been lost – it’s human nature,” Mr Benton said.
It would be the second stint on the council for Mr Benton, who previously served until the Shire of Wangaratta amalgamated with others in 1994, after he had started as one of the youngest councillors in Victoria.
Carboor farmer Harry Bussell was also quietly confident, without celebrating just yet, as he held a 271-vote lead over Kerrin Chambers in the South ward.
“It’s always good to be in a race where your horse is the horse in front,” he said.
It’s always good to be in a race where your horse is the horse in front.
- South ward council candidate Harry Bussell
“I won’t get there on primary votes, I should get there on preferences.”
Despite vying for top spot, Mr Bussell and fellow candidate Phil Larkin happily met up for coffee on Wednesday morning for a chat.
Mr Bussell said he had a lot of respect for both the South ward candidates.
The final election results, including the city ward, were expected on the weekend.