Former broadcaster and journalist Stephen Andrew has been elected to Victoria Council following a long-delayed byelection.
The byelection was held to replace former Councillor Laurel Collins, who resigned from her position when she was elected as a federal MP after serving less than a year on Victoria council.
Voting was delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and costs were expected to rise by over $350,000 as a result.
Andrew took home just over 56 per cent of the vote, with closest rival Stefanie Hardman of civic slate Together Victoria falling in a distant second with 30.7 per cent.
“Thank you very much Victoria I really appreciate your support and I will chat with you later overwhelming right now,” Andrew tweeted as the results showed him with an overwhelming lead.
Thank you very much Victoria I really appreciate your support and I will chat with you later overwhelming right now
— Stephen Andrew (@Stephen_Andrew) December 13, 2020
None of the other nine candidates on the ballot took home more than 5 per cent of the vote.
Voter turnout was low, with only 17.5 per cent of the city’s 70,343 eligible voters casting a ballot in person or by mail.