SUZANNA Sheed is expected to retain the seat of Shepparton as an independent member for Shepparton District for the 59th Victorian Parliament, with her first preference vote at 14,953 or 38.97 percent as we were going to press, ahead of Liberal Candidate, Cheryl Hammer by just 12 percent.
With Victorian Electoral Commission manager, Mick Bastian expected to make the official announcement of the victor this week, other party candidates haven’t fared so well against Ms Hammer and Ms Sheed. The Nationals Candidate, Peter Schwarz received 5,026 of primary first preference votes, equating to 13.10 percent.
The Labour Party Candidate, Bill Heath received 4,310 votes or 11.23 percent.
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers Candidate, Murray Willaton received 3,005 votes or 7.83 percent.
But it was the Greens Candidate, Nickee Freeman who received the lowest number of votes, taking just 806 or 2.10 percent of the primary first preference votes.
Cheryl Hammer received 10,267 votes or 26.76 percent.
The results do not include the two candidate preference votes.
Following the announcement of her almost certain victory on Saturday night, Ms Sheed took to Facebook thanking those involved in her campaign.
“What an incredible result for Shepparton District,” Ms Sheed said.
“None of this would have been possible without the amazing support of #teamsuzanna and all those who put their trust in me for another four years.
“Thank you everyone for helping to keep Shepparton District proudly independent.”
Across the state as a whole though, the swing for votes seems to be heading in Labor’s favour, with Labor so far tallying 42.84 percent in the Lower House and Liberal coming in close behind with 30.43 percent at the time of publication, 1,196,201 to 849,595 and in the Upper House Liberal is in the lead with 32.43 percent of the votes with Labor close behind on 31.24 percent. Local Upper House representative, Josh Hudson and the Hudson 4 NV had received .83 percent of votes at the time of publication.
Liberal Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell said, “I already know that I’ve been re-elected so there is no anxiety about my own position, but I am eagerly awaiting the make-up of the Upper House and whether Luke O’Sullivan has been returned or not.
“I’m very humbled by the support I have received and thank the people of northern Victoria for putting their faith in me again to represent them. It’s a great honour to hold that position and I look forward to giving the people a strong voice in parliament over the next four years.”
