Eight candidates standing for five spots in Shire of Plantagenet election, including president Les Handasyde

Eight candidates will be standing for five spots on the Shire of Plantagenet council when elections take place on October 18. Two incumbent councillors are standing down while three others will fight for their seats, including shire president Len Handasyde. Those hoping to be re-elected alongside the president are Andrew Fraser and Brett Bell, while long-serving members Sue Etherington and Jon Oldfield are retiring. Three women are among the eight nominees putting their hats into the ring, including Kym Tyrer, the chief executive and winemaker at Galafrey Wines, who was born and bred in Mt Barker. Marie O’Dea has twice been elected to the council but took a two-year break and is hoping to return. In her profile, Sue Andersson said she had recently relocated to Plantagenet and wants to “ensure suitable investment in economic and community projects”. Local farmer William Carter and Peter Purves, who came to Porongurup in 2021, are the other hopefuls. The new council will select the president, voting at its first meeting following the count. Elections are held every two years for half of the council, and candidates are elected using the preferential voting system. Cr Handasyde has been president for two years. Councillors Rosie Brown, Ken Clements, Josh Liebeck and Warren Sheard have their seats until 2027. Cr Handasyde urged people to read the election materials and vote on October 18. “There are two good councillors retiring but we would always look for incremental change because it’s good for the long-term future of the shire,” he said.