EXCLUSIVE - Ben Shaw elected to Sorell Council following countback

Former Derwent Valley mayor Ben Shaw has been elected to the Sorell Council after a countback.

He will replace Charles Woolley, who resigned as deputy mayor and councillor after he moved out of the Sorell municipality.

Mr Shaw is currently the Tasmanian executive director of the National Electoral and Communications Association, and is also on the boards of the Australian Cabler Registration Service and PCYC.

He was Derwent Valley mayor for around three years before resigning in December 2021 because of “social media warriors, certain media, and a minority of despicable community members” trying to bring him down, as well as the demands of balancing the mayoral role with his full-time job.

Now a resident of Primrose Sands, Mr Shaw unsuccessfully vied for a Sorell councillor position at the 2022 local government elections.

He said he believed his previous council experience, which also includes a stint as vice president of the Local Government Association of Tasmania, would make him an effective elected member of the Sorell municipality following being successful in the countback.

“I think my strong suit is governance and strategic direction,” Mr Shaw said.

“Once I understand the community’s needs a bit more, I can have a look at the council’s strategic plans and make sure they can get some of those things across the line.”

Mr Shaw said the Sorell Council was a well-run.

“Former mayor Kerry Vincent was really great.

“I’m assuming they’re continuing that legacy even though Kerry has gone.

“I’d say they’re probably still operating the same way, and I just want to support their governance and push their strategic direction forward.”

Sorell councillors will vote on who will take over the vacant deputy mayor role at a later date.

While it has not been confirmed yet, the next council meeting on October 21 is likely to be when elected members will decide on who will become the deputy mayor of Sorell.