LIVE: John Bowler returned as Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor

We came, we saw, about 35 per cent of us voted. Tonight’s results will shape local decision making in your council for the next two years. So will there be an appetite for change, or are Goldfields-Esperance residents happy with the status quo? Follow the Kalgoorlie Miner’s coverage tonight to find out.

10.20pm: The 35 per cent turnout for tonight’s vote in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder may seem low, but it is better than the last election, and above the State average. Incumbent Mayor John Bowler will be sworn in to continue his role in the top job after garnering 3008 of 5887 votes. An overwhelming victory to say the least.

On the council front, all four incumbents were returned. Lisa Malicky and Glenney Wilson were head and shoulders above the rest, but Deborah Botica had to wait until the final 500 votes to know her fate. Mandy Reidy also retained her position. All in all, it seems voters were happy with the status quo.

Three new faces will come on to the CKB council. They are David Grills, Robert Hicks and Terrence Winner.

And what of the other mayoral candidates? Suzie Williams attracted 24.55 per cent of the vote, and Pam O’Donnell 16.43 per cent.

John Katahanas increased his 2017 count, but still fell well short with 380 votes. Ian Burt, who caused a bit of a social media storm this week, gained 87 votes, or 1.48 per cent of the count.

For a full breakdown of results right across the Goldfields-Esperance region, pick up Monday’s Kalgoorlie Miner.

9.32pm: Only 250 votes to go. Deborah Botica will take the final position. Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s councillors are: Lisa Malicky, Glenney Wilson, David Grills, Robert Hicks, Terrence Winner, Mandy Reidy and Deborah Botica.

John Bowler will continue his role as Mayor.

9.18pm: Terrence Winner and Mandy Reidy are SAFE. One spot left, and it looks likely to go to Deborah Botica with 800 votes left to count.

9.09pm: About 5000 of 6000-odd ballots have been counted. Terrence Winner and Mandy Reidy very likely to be re-elected. Still waiting on that formal mayoral announcement.

9.04pm: Terrence Winner (2190 votes), Mandy Reidy (2157 votes), Deborah Botica (2083 votes), William Hansen (1922 votes) and John Matthew (1897 votes) vying for the final three spots.

8.55pm: About 1500 ballots left to be counted. So far we have the following:

SAFE: Lisa Malicky, Glenney Wilson, David Grills, Robert Hicks

LIKELY: Terrence Winner, Mandy Reidy, Deborah Botica

STILL A CHANCE: William Hansen, John Matthew

8.47pm: John Bowler is believed to have attracted about 3000 of 5950 votes in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayoral race. Suzie Williams in second with about 1400, followed by Pam O’Donnell with close to 1000.

8.41pm: We’re hearing the mayoral vote has been counted. Just waiting for formal announcement. We’re also confident Robert Hicks is safe and will serve a term on the Kalgoorlie-Boulder council. About one third of ballot papers left to count.

8.26pm: Robert Hicks appears likely to grab the fourth spot up for grabs. He has 1710 votes with more than half counted. About 80 ahead of fifth-placed Terrence Winner. One to watch closely over the next 30 minutes.

8.14pm: Robert Hicks, Terrence Winner, Mandy Reidy and Deborah Botica are all firming up to take the final four seats up for grabs. Wayne Johnson, John Matthew, Lane Tomich are about 200 votes behind, William Hansen about 50 votes off, still a good chance.

8.02pm: It’s close, but we’ll call it for David Grills. He joins Lisa Malicky and Glenney Wilson in the SAFE camp. We’re also hearing rumours, unconfirmed, that John Bowler has won the mayoral race. Suzie Williams has conceded defeat.

7.50pm: This is the current seven, based on about 2,500 of 6,000-odd ballots. Lisa Malicky, Glenney Wilson, David Grills, Robert Hicks, Terrence Winner, Mandy Reidy, Deborah Botica. William Hansen and John Matthew are within 100 votes.

7.38pm: We are confident to call it for David Grills, he will get a spot on the Kalgoorlie-Boulder council. Robert Hicks, Terrence Winner, Mandy Reidy, Deborah Botica are next in line.

7.31pm: We are one-third of the way through the count. Lisa Malicky and Glenney Wilson both have more than 1000 votes. Former WA National MP David Grills is firming his hold on spot number three with 968 votes, about 200 votes clear of seventh place. Mayoral candidates in the room all looking nervous.

7.22pm: David Grills (880 votes), Robert Hicks (837 votes) and Terrence Winner (832 votes) are all firming up for spots three to five in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder council. Hansen, Botica, Reidy, Matthew, Tomich, Johnson will fight it out for the two final spots.

7.14pm: Here’s what we can call so far. About 4500 ballots to go.

SAFE: Lisa Malicky, Glenney Wilson.

LIKELY: David Grills, Robert Hicks.

TOO EARLY TO CALL: Terrence Winner, William Hansen, Deborah Botica, Mandy Reidy, John Matthew, Lane Tomich, Wayne Johnson.

7.10pm: Mayor John Bowler paying close attention to the results. The mayoral count could be up soon. Lisa Malicky is safe with 818 votes.

7.00pm: We are confident to call it for Lisa Malicky (11.38per cent) and Glenney Wilson (10.93 per cent) with about 1000 of 6000-odd ballots counted in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Both have led from the start. Former WA Nationals MP David Grills is polling well in third place.

6:52pm: Incumbents Lisa Malicky and Glenney Wilson look safe with about 11 per cent of the vote each. Terrence Winner, Robert Hicks, William Hansen, Dave Grills, Mandy Reidy are the next five on the list, but numbers are tight with about 750 ballots counted.

6.42pm: About 500 of 6000 votes counted at Lisa Malicky, Glenney Wilson, David Grills and Terrence WInner are in the box seat

6:34pm: The barbecue is on, the wines are out, and the scrutineering has begun. Glenn Wilson and Lisa Malicky are leading the early vote count in Kalgoorlie-Boulder

Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayoral vote:

Suzie WILLIAMS: 0 votes

John KATAHANAS: 0 votes

Ian BURT: 0 votes

John BOWLER: 0 votes

Pam O’DONNELL: 0 votes

6.25pm: Returning officer says about 6000 votes were cast in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The next mayor should be known by about 7.30pm.

6.20pm: A late flurry of votes in Kalgoorlie-Boulder could see voter turnout as high as 36 per cent. The late votes could make for a long night too.

6.00pm: First thing’s first, which districts in the Goldfields-Esperance region are holding elections?

Kalgoorlie-Boulder

• Seven vacancies
• 14 council candidates
• Five mayoral candidates
• Mayor John Bowler re-contesting
• Six other incumbents re-contesting, two for mayor
• 31.81 per cent postal votes returned

Esperance

• Two rural, three town ward vacancies
• Four rural ward candidates
• 10 town ward candidates
• President Victoria Brown not re-contesting
• Deputy president Natalie Bowman re-contesting
• Two other incumbents re-contesting
• 46.91 per cent rural postal votes returned
• 35.97 per cent town postal votes returned

Coolgardie

• Three vacancies
• Six council candidates
• Deputy president Tracey Rathbone re-contesting
• Two other incumbents re-contesting
• 30.30 per cent postal votes returned

Menzies

• Two rural, one town ward vacancies
• Three rural ward candidates
• Two town ward candidates
• Deputy president Ian Baird re-contesting
• Two other incumbents re-contesting

Ravensthorpe

• Four vacancies
• Six council candidates
• President Keith Dunlop re-contesting
• Three other incumbents re-contesting
• 45.49 per cent postal votes returned

Wiluna

• Four vacancies
• Six council candidates
• Deputy president Stacey Petterson re-contesting
• One other incumbent re-contesting
• 25.70 per cent postal votes returned