Counting is continuing with more than two thirds of the votes counted on Wednesday, September 18 but postal votes are being accepted until 6pm on Friday, September 27 and the election results are not expected to be known until October.
These are the statistics as at noon on Wednesday.
Budgewoi Ward
Labor has 35.61 per cent which so far gives them the chance of getting a second candidate in as they are well above the ratio to get the first person in.
On Saturday night, The Greens candidate Sue Wynn was neck and neck with Team Central Coast and Doug Eaton, who is the President of the Warnervale branch of the Liberal Party but ran as an Independent.
But now Eaton has moved to the front with almost 19 per cent of the vote with Team Central Coast on almost 17 per cent and The Greens on almost 16 per cent.
It will come down to whether all the preferences from Central Coast Heart on about 10 per cent flow to Eaton as directed on candidates’ how to vote cards and how that stacks up with other preferences.
Budgewoi Ward got two Labor people over the line in 2017 and that is still possible so the count will continue to be watched very closely over the next week.
Gosford East Ward
Out in front with 33 per cent of the vote is Lawrie McKinna from Team Central Coast.
Next is Labor on 29 per cent of the vote and the Liberals have 23 per cent of the vote.
The four ungrouped Independents below the line have about 12 per cent of the vote between them.
Gosford West Ward
Liberals are in front with 29 per cent, and Labor is second with 28 per cent.
The race for third position is between former mayor Jane Smith, Ratepayers Choice Kevin Brooks and Coasties Who Care’s Lisa Bellamy.
Team Central Coast has less votes than the three mentioned.
The two ungrouped Independents under the line, Julian Richards and Andrew Baker, have less than one per cent of the count so far.
The Entrance Ward
The Liberals are in front on 37.46 per cent of the vote; second is Labor on 33.15 per cent of the vote and in third place is the Animal Justice Party with 11.54 per cent of the vote.
Independent Corinne Lamont from Wamberal Save Our Sand is not far behind on more than 10 per cent with Team Central Coast is on eight per cent and ungrouped Independent Rebecca Smiley has less than three per cent of the vote.
Wyong Ward
The Labor party is in front with 36.82 per cent of the vote.
The Liberals are coming second with 33.6 per cent of the vote and Team Central Coast is third with almost 24 per cent of the vote.
The three Independents under the line have a total of about six per cent of the vote.
Doug Eaton could get elected as Mayor with the help of Central Coast Heart, the Liberals and maybe a few faithful independent mates. Heaven help us all.
My guess is Central Coast Heart preference votes go to Eaton.
And by the way does anyone know what is an “Independent Liberal? Only something Doug Eaton could come up with I think.
He managed to get himself onto the Liberal ticket as well as classing himself as an Independent. Smart moove.
I have memories of a Save Tuggerah Lakes Party and a Chinese Theme Park.