Derwent Valley and Central Highlands Council election candidates revealed

The Derwent Valley Council has six candidates nominated for Derwent Valley Mayor and nine for deputy Mayor. Current Derwent Valley Mayor Michelle Dracoulis is looking to return to the role, flanked by new and returning candidates Neil Biggar, Casey Farrell, Jess Burns, Wayne Shoobridge and Julie Triffett.

Former mayors Tony Nicholson OAM and Ben Shaw are also looking to return to council as deputy mayor or as councillors, with current deputy Luke Browning and current councillors Phillip Bingley, Justin Derksen and Sara Lowe also nominating for the role. Phillip Bigg, Melinda Pearce and James Randall have also stepped up to contest the position.  

Twenty candidates have also been nominated for election to the seven councillor positions, reduced from eight.

Nominations for the Derwent Valley Council are as follows.

Mayor – 6 candidates

Neil Biggar -New Norfolk
Jess Burns-Molesworth
Michelle Dracoulis -New Norfolk
Casey Farrell-New Norfolk
Wayne Shoobridge-New Norfolk
Julie Triffett-Magra

Deputy Mayor-9 candidates

Phillip Bigg-New Norfolk
Phillip Bingley-Lachlan
Luke Browning-Lawitta
Justin Derksen-New Norfolk
Sara Lowe-New Norfolk
Tony Nicholson-Lachlan
Melinda Pearce-New Norfolk
James Randall-New Norfolk
Ben Shaw-Lawitta


Councillors- 20 candidates

Phillip Bigg-New Norfolk
Neil Biggar-New Norfolk
Phillip Bingley-Lachlan
Luke Browning-Lawitta
Jess Burns-Molesworth
Nick Cooley-Molesworth
Justin Derksen-New Norfolk
Michelle Dracoulis-New Norfolk
Casey Farrell-New Norfolk
James Graham-Magra
Matt Hill-New Norfolk
Kerry Kievit-New Norfolk
Sara Lowe-New Norfolk
Tony Nicholson-Lachlan
Melinda Pearce-New Norfolk
James Randall-New Norfolk
Ben Shaw-Lawitta
Wayne Shoobridge-New Norfolk
Julie Triffett-Magra
Brody Wiggins-New Norfolk

Nine candidates will contest the Central Highlands Council elections, which are also being reduced from nine seats to seven. Four candidates are nominated for mayor with John Hall the only candidate for deputy mayor which he will win if reelected as councillor.

Central Highlands Council

Mayor-4 candidates

Jim Allwright- Ouse
Robert Louis Cassidy-Bothwell
Steve Loring-Tods Corner
Loueen(Lou)Triffitt-Hamilton

Deputy Mayor – 1 candidate (no ballot required)

John Hall-Bothwell

7 Councillors – 9 candidates

Jim Allwright- Ouse
Anthony Archer-Bothwell
Robert Louis Cassidy-Bothwell
Ray Dabbs-Bothwell
John Hall-Bothwell
Julie Honner- Miena
Steve Loring-Tods Corner
Shelley Triffett-Hamilton
Loueen (Lou) Triffitt-Hamilton

Voting in Tasmanian Government elections is by postal ballot and is compulsory. Ballot packages will start arriving in the mail soon, which include information on each candidate. Ballot Papers must be filled out and returned by October 27 with votes to start to be counted on October 28.