As I predicted, the composition of Marrickville Council was unchanged after the September 13 elections, despite the increased primary vote to the Greens. Still Greens 5, Labor 4, independents 3, though there are six new faces (three Greens, three Labor).
Today the ALP lost its monopoly on State and Territory governments when the West Australian Nationals ended a week of brinksmanship and renewed their coalition with the Liberals. Colin Barnett is WA Premier. More to the point, Troy Buswell has a government seat to sniff - and it appears he will be State Treasurer.
I was going to preview the other wards in Saturday's Marrickville Council elections. West Ward is pretty boring, as is South Ward, where Maroubra resident Morris Hanna will be among those seeking re-election. It's likely that each of South, West and Central Wards will shape up as Greens 1, Labor 1, independent 1. The question will be which independent, certainly in Central Ward.
Central Ward of the Marrickville LGA comprises the suburbs of Petersham and Lewisham plus parts of Stanmore, Dulwich Hill and Marrickville. There are five groups on the ballot, plus two ungrouped candidates.
Tomorrow is Local Government election time across New South Wales. I'm voting in the Central Ward of the Marrickville LGA. As in past federal and state elections since I commenced this blog in 2004, I am laying my voting intentions out quite clearly on these pages.
I will be casting my first preference vote for the Greens ticket led by Max Phillips. My second preference will go to the "independent" ticket led by Joseph Capogreco.