Ballot drawn for upcoming extraordinary election with

The ballot has been drawn for the upcoming extraordinary election, with old and new faces set to battle it out to fill the vacant seat.

Six Port Hedland residents have put up their hand for the election which will be held on May 22 to fill the seat left vacant by Warren McDonogh, who resigned in February.

It is the latest upheaval for the Port Hedland council which was previously thrown into turmoil in July 2019 when Local Government Minister David Templeman suspended the council appointed Commissioner Fredrick Riebeling to administer the town after complaints about councillor conduct during the previous 18 months.

Then councillor and current Mayor Peter Carter stood down in November that year causing the council to be dissolved because of a lack of a quorum.

Mr Carter was then elected as Mayor in 2020 along with a new council for a 12 month term before last years local government elections.

Warren McDonogh was elected in the 2020 election for a three year term and in February stepped down due to personal reasons.

Jason Keller, Gloria Jacob, Lorraine Butson, Jillian Fisher, George Deccache and TK Rivera will contest the seat.

Ms Jacob, Mr Deccache and Ms Buston most recently ran for mayor position at the last local government election but fell short to Peter Carter.

Mr Keller worked FIFO for about a decade before he and his family relocated from Sydney to make a permanent home in Hedland.

Mr Rivera and his family moved back to the Pilbara in 2020, having previously lived in the region from 2006 until 2013.

Ms Fisher moved to the town eight years ago and in her ballot biography described Hedland as a great, inclusive and generous community working towards and taking advantage of this boom time environment.

The council voted in favour of holding the extraordinary election at the March meeting, passing the item 7-1.

During the public question and statement time before the vote, locals shared their opinions.

Former councillor Gloria Jacob said the decision to go to an election would result in “fair decision-making and good governance”.

The one member of council to vote against the decision, was Mr Carter.