By Casey Neill
The status quo will remain across the Yarra Ranges following the Saturday 24 November State Election.
The Evelyn, Eildon, Monbulk and Gembrook electorates followed the state-wide swing towards the ALP that returned the party to government, but three of the area’s four elected representatives are Liberal.
There is one new face in the mix, with long-serving Liberal Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe’s retirement.
Liberal Bridget Vallence will step into her shoes after receiving just over 50 per cent of first preference votes, according to provisional results.
ALP candidate Gail Ritchie received just over 40 per cent, and Green Brodie Everist 9 per cent.
The two-party preferred vote showed a swing to Labor of about 6 per cent.
In Eildon, voters returned Liberal MP Cindy McLeish for another term with 43 per cent of first preference votes.
It was a closer race between Ms McLeish and AL P candidate Sally Brennan than the 2014 election.
Ms Brennan received just over 35 per cent of the primary vote this time, compared to 28 per cent in 2014.
“Not the result I wanted but a stunning night for Labor in Victoria,” Ms Brennan said on her Facebook page.
“The politics of division and fear have no place in our great state or in our communities.
“The people of Victoria have voted for a fair and positive future, in huge numbers, across the state.”
In Monbulk, provisional results showed James Merlino received just over 42 per cent of the primary vote.
Liberal candidate James Schurink was hot on his heels with 36 per cent.
The two-party preferred figures had Mr Merlino at almost 59 per cent.
Both figures were up on his 2014 results, when he picked up less than 38 per cent of first preference votes and 55 per cent of the two-party preferred numbers.
Liberal Gembrook MP Brad Battin was returned safely, provisional figures showed, but he did lose ground to his ALP challenger, Michael Galea.
Mr Battin won almost 51 per cent of the primary vote, compared to Mr Galea’s 39 per cent.
After preferences, Mr Battin sat on 53 per cent to Mr Galea’s 47 per cent.
In the 2014 election, Mr Battin won almost 55 per cent of first preference votes and 59 per cent of the two party preferred votes.
We’ll bring you more from the candidates online and in our coming editions, including which projects the Labor contenders pitched to win your vote and when you can expect them delivered.
