Two Wheatbelt South shires will head to the polls in October while three ready for extraordinary elections

With nominations for the 2023 local government elections now closed two Wheatbelt South shires will be voting for candidates in October. Seven Shires have seen candidates elected unopposed and three will be required to hold extraordinary elections in the coming months having failed to receive enough nominations to fill vacancies. Shires where elections will take place Elections will be held in the Shire of Narrogin after nine candidates have nominated for six vacant seats. Tim Wiese, Graham Broad, Clive Barton, Tamara Alexander, Jacqui Early, Murray Fisher, Josh Pomykala Brian Seale and Roxanne McNab will vie for a place on council. All are either sitting members or have sat on the council previously. The Shire of Williams will see eight runners campaign over seven seats including current Shire president Jarrad Logie and deputy president Natalie Major. Christine Cowcher, John Macnamara, Simon Harding, Marie Lloyd, Natalie Major, Bernie Panizza, Jarrad Logie, and Tracey Price have thrown their hats in the ring. All candidates with the exception of Marie Lloyd currently sit on council. Shires where candidates were elected unopposed The Shire of Corrigin will forgo an election this year after receiving four nominations for four vacancies. Councillors Sharon Jacobs and Mike Weguelin will retain their seats and be joined by newcomers Brooke Filinski and Megan Leach. With three vacancies and three nominations in the Shire of Dumbleyung, deputy president Amy Knight and councillor Catherine Watkins will retain their seats. Newcomer Emily Edwards will join councillors Knight and Watkins. The Shire of Kulin received four candidate nominations for four vacancies. Shire president Grant Robbins has retained his seat as have councillors Jarron Noble and Robbie Bowey. The elected members will be joined by newcomer Brad Miller. With three vacancies to fill and three nominations, the Shire of Pingelly will have no need to hold elections. Peter Narducci will retain his seat and Clinton Cheney and Emma Baker will join the council as new members. The Shire of Wagin received four nominations from serving councillors for four vacancies. Shire president Phillip Blight and councillors Geoffrey West and Sherryl Chilcott will retain their seats having been elected to serve a four-year term while councillor Wade Longmuir was elected for a two-year term. In the Shire of Wandering four runners were elected unopposed. Sheryl Little will retain her seat and Lou Cowan, Dennis Jennings and Alan Price will be joining council as newly elected members. In the Shire of West Arthur, president Neil Morrell, deputy president Graeme Peirce and councillor Adam Squires will retain their seats and be joined by newcomer Lucy Hall after being elected unopposed. In the Shire of Wickepin, with three nominations for three vacancies, Shire president Julie Russell and councillors John Mearns and Fran Allen will retain their seats. Shires that will hold extraordinary elections In the Shire of Boddington, deputy Shire president Eugene Smalberger will retain her seat on the council. The Shire of Boddington sought to fill four vacancies but councillor Smalberger was the only candidate to nominate. With four vacancies to fill, the Shire of Brookton received two nominations. Councillor Tamara Lilly will return for another term and Lachlan McCabe will enter council as a newly elected member. The Shire of Cuballing sought to fill three seats but received only two candidate nominations. Deputy Shire president Rob Harris was elected for a second term and Scott Ballantyne will return to council having served two terms in the past.