# 2007 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election

Periodic elections for the Tasmanian Legislative Council were held on 6 May 2007. The three seats up for election were Montgomery, held by independent MLC Sue Smith; Nelson, held by independent MLC Jim Wilkinson; and Pembroke, held by Labor MLC Allison Ritchie. Montgomery was last contested in 2002, while Nelson and Pembroke were last contested in 2001.

## Montgomery

Independent MLC Sue Smith was elected to the Council for the seat of Leven in 1997, and successfully transferred to the new seat of Montgomery in 2002. She was not opposed in this election.

### Montgomery Results

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2007: Montgomery :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Sue Smith | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

## Nelson

Independent MLC Jim Wilkinson first entered the Council as the member for Queenborough in 1995, successfully transferring to Nelson in 2001. His only opponent was Tom Nilsson of the Tasmanian Greens, an anti-population-growth activist.

### Nelson Results

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2007: Nelson :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Jim Wilkinson | 11,232 | 61.60 | +12.61 |
| | Greens | Tom Nilsson | 7,003 | 38.40 | +38.40 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,235 | 97.36 | +0.83 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 494 | 2.64 | −0.83 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,729 | 81.01 | −1.06 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | +3.03 | |

## Pembroke

Labor MLC Allison Ritchie had held Pembroke since defeating independent member Cathy Edwards in 2001, in a result attributed to dissatisfaction with Edwards' dual role as MLC and Mayor of Clarence. On her election Ritchie was the youngest member ever elected to the Legislative Council. In 2007 she faced five opponents. The only other party to endorse a candidate was the Tasmanian Greens, who ran protester and former candidate Neil Smith. The four independents were: Clarence alderman Richard James, a former Liberal and Democrat serial candidate; John Peers, another Clarence alderman; former Clarence alderman David Jackson; and Hobart City Council alderman Marti Zucco.
Ritchie won a majority while there were still three candidates in the count, so a two-party preferred count was not conducted.

### Pembroke Results

Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic elections, 2007: Pembroke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Allison Ritchie | 8,513 | 42.87 | −14.22 |
| | Independent | Richard James | 3,650 | 18.38 | +18.38 |
| | Greens | Neil Smith | 2,662 | 13.41 | +13.41 |
| | Independent | Marti Zucco | 2,332 | 11.74 | +11.74 |
| | Independent | John Peers | 1,839 | 9.26 | +9.26 |
| | Independent | David Jackson | 860 | 4.33 | +4.33 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,856 | 96.74 | +0.09 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 669 | 3.26 | −0.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,525 | 87.52 | −1.55 |
| After distribution of preferences from three excluded candidates ||||||
| | Labor | Allison Ritchie | 10,161 | 51.46 | |
| | Independent | Richard James | 6,156 | 31.18 | |
| | Greens | Neil Smith | 3,428 | 17.36 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |