Wollongong's mayoral race is finally over with Gordon Bradbery officially declared the winner on Monday morning.
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The Independent took out 30.45 per cent of votes (38,741 first preference votes), while Labor's Tania Brown came close with 28.63 per cent of votes.
Cr Brown congratulated the returning mayor and said she was proud of Labor's campaign and proud to be re-elected to Ward 2 for Wollongong City Council.
"I'm really proud of the campaign that we ran and the fact that we got so close I think shows there was a mood for change just not quite enough," she said. "But I'll be still there working for the community."
The Independents policy agenda included advocating for the completion of Memorial Drive to link up to Bulli Pass, supporting the re-opening of the city's nightlife and working to ensure better use of the rail corridor that runs through the city.
It's expected this would be the last serving term for the 70-year-old, who has held the top job for the past decade.
Greens Councillor elect Mithra Cox congratulated Cr Bradbery on his re-election and said they had "plenty of work" ahead of them
"We have plenty of work to do in creating a sustainable, walking-friendly, and healthy city as well as dealing with the challenges posed by our changing climate, especially in our low lying seaside villages and reserves," Cr Cox said.
"In the past we have worked with the Council to introduce FOGO, creating a city that is friendly for walking and bicycling and ensuring that Council now purchases 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. We will continue to work with the new Council to create new jobs in a Green sustainable economy, cooler villages, better footpaths, affordable housing and a move to carbon reduction for Council's operations and sites.
"I also welcome the new returning Councillors and the new Councillors for the next term of this council."
Meantime, it has been declared Shellharbour's new mayor to be Chris Homer with 52.80 per cent of votes compared to Marianne Saliba with 47.20 per cent.
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