# 2017 New South Wales mayoral elections

The 2017 New South Wales mayoral elections were held on 9 September 2017 to elect mayors or lord mayors to 13 of the 46 local government areas (LGAs) up for election in New South Wales. The elections were held as part of the statewide local elections.
While most mayors in New South Wales are elected by councillors at meetings, several choose to have directly-elected (or popularly elected) mayors.
This was the last time the position of mayor of North Sydney was directly-elected, as a referendum held on the same day as the local elections saw 52.4% of residents vote in favour of replacing the election with a vote from councillors. The change came into effect in 2021.

## Background
### 2014 Willoughby by-election

On 20 January 2014, Willoughby mayor Pat Reilly (Independent) died in hospital after a short sickness.
Although she finished in third place on first preferences, Independent Liberal candidate Gail Giles-Gidney won the by-election on 12 April with 50.8% of the vote after preference distribution.

### 2014 Newcastle by-election

On 17 August 2014, Newcastle lord mayor Jeff McCloy (Independent) resigned following an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into donations he made to Liberal Party candidates during his tenure as a property developer.
The subsequent by-election on 15 November was won by Labor candidate Nuatali Nelmes.

## Candidates

Incumbents at the time of the elections are highlighted in bold text.
| LGA | Held by | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Independent | Others |
| Burwood | Labor | John Faker | Joseph Del Duca | | | Lesley Furneaux-Cook (ICV) |
| Canada Bay | Labor | Angelo Tsirekas | Helen McCaffrey | Charles Jago | Daniela Ramondino | |
| Hornsby | Liberal | Janelle McIntosh | Philip Ruddock | Emma Heyde | Christine Berman Mick Gallagher | |
| Hunter's Hill | Independent | | Zac Miles | | Mark Bennett Ross Williams | |
| Maitland | Labor | Loretta Baker | Bob Geoghegan | John Brown | Brian Burke Ken Wethered | Philip Penfold (PI) |
| Mosman | Serving Mosman | | | | Simon Menzies Libby Moline | Roy Bendall (RFM) Carolyn Corrigan (SM) |
| Newcastle | Labor | Nuatali Nelmes | David Compton (disendorsed) | Therese Doyle | Ron Brown Kath Elliott Rod Holding | Steve O'Brien (SA) |
| North Sydney | Independent | | | | Zoë Baker Jilly Gibson Jessica Keen | Michael Kong (LDP) |
| Orange | Independent | | | Stephen Nugent | Kevin Duffy Ron Gander Chris Gryllis Reg Kidd Tony Mileto Scott Munro Paula Townsend | Russell Turner (Ind. Nat) Jeff Whitton (Ind. ALP) |
| Port Stephens | Independent | Des Maslen | | | Geoff Dingle Sally Dover Peter Kafer Ryan Palmer Steve Tucker | |
| The Hills | Liberal | Tony Hay | Michelle Byrne | | Jeff Lowe | Ray Brown (BAP) |
| Willoughby | Independent Liberal | | | | Angelo Rozos | Gail Giles-Gidney (Ind. Lib) |
| Wollongong | Wollongong Independent | David Brown | John Dorahy | Mithra Cox | Andrew Anthony Vicki Curran Warwick Erwin John Mullan Greg Petty | Gordon Bradbery (WI) |

### Retiring mayors

* Peter Blackmore (Independent) − Maitland, announced 17 May 2017
* Steve Russell (Liberal) − Hornsby, announced July 2017
* Bruce McKenzie (Independent) − Port Stephens, announced 9 August 2017
* John Davis (Independent) − Orange, announced 10 August 2017; not directly-elected
* Yvonne Keane (Liberal) − The Hills, announced 2017; not directly-elected
* Peter Abelson (Serving Mosman) − Mosman, announced 2017

## Results
### Burwood

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Burwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John Faker | 8,403 | 52.6 | +8.3 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Del Duca | 3,899 | 24.4 | −3.3 |
| | Community Voice | Lesley Furneaux-Cook | 3,663 | 22.9 | +1.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 15,965 | 97.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 3.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 79.6 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +8.3 | |

### Canada Bay

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Canada Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Angelo Tsirekas | 17,589 | 39.7 | −9.7 |
| | Liberal | Helen McCaffrey | 16,513 | 37.3 | −4.1 |
| | Independent | Daniela Ramondino | 6,101 | 13.8 | +13.8 |
| | Greens | Charles Jago | 4,117 | 9.3 | +0.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 44,320 | 96.1 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 3.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 80.3 | |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Angelo Tsirekas | 22,083 | 54.9 | |
| | Liberal | Helen McCaffrey | 18,177 | 45.1 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |

### Hornsby

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Hornsby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Philip Ruddock | 39,325 | 47.8 | +4.8 |
| | Greens | Emma Heyde | 15,140 | 18.4 | +18.4 |
| | Labor | Janelle McIntosh | 12,385 | 15.0 | +15.0 |
| | Independent | Christine Berman | 8,357 | 10.2 | −29.9 |
| | Independent | Mick Gallagher | 7,126 | 8.7 | −4.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 82,333 | 97.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 3.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 85.6 | |
| After distribution of preferences ||||||
| | Liberal | Philip Ruddock | 40,143 | 50.9 | |
| | Greens | Emma Heyde | 15,839 | 20.1 | +20.1 |
| | Labor | Janelle McIntosh | 13,022 | 16.5 | +16.5 |
| | Independent | Christine Berman | 9,824 | 12.5 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Hunter's Hill

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Hunter's Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Zac Miles | 3,228 | 40.2 |
| | Independent | Mark Bennett | 2,527 | 31.5 |
| | Independent | Ross Williams | 2,276 | 28.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,031 | 96.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 83.4 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Independent | Mark Bennett | 3,995 | 54.4 |
| | Liberal | Zac Miles | 3,350 | 45.6 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Maitland

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Maitland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Labor | Loretta Baker | 14,674 | 31.4 | +12.2 |
| | Penfold Independents | Philip Penfold | 13,160 | 28.2 | +7.1 |
| | Liberal | Bob Geoghegan | 8,062 | 17.3 | +17.3 |
| | Greens | John Brown | 2,212 | 4.7 | −1.2 |
| | Independent | Ken Wethered | 4,546 | 9.7 | +9.7 |
| | Independent | Brian Burke | 4,082 | 8.7 | +8.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 46,736 | 95.9 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 4.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 84.2 | |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Labor | Loretta Baker | 19,771 | 54.8 | |
| | Penfold Independents | Philip Penfold | 16,277 | 45.2 | |
| | Country Labor gain from Independent | Country Labor gain from Independent | Swing | N/A | |

### Mosman

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Mosman :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Serving Mosman | Carolyn Corrigan | 5,928 | 39.9 | +11.5 |
| | Residents For Mosman | Roy Bendall | 4,192 | 27.8 | +6.4 |
| | Independent | Simon Menzies | 2,971 | 19.7 | +6.3 |
| | Independent | Libby Moline | 1,975 | 13.1 | +3.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 15,066 | 95.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 4.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 75.7 | |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Serving Mosman | Carolyn Corrigan | 7,140 | 56.9 | |
| | Residents For Mosman | Roy Bendall | 5,415 | 43.1 | |
| | Serving Mosman hold | Serving Mosman hold | Swing | | |

### Newcastle

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Newcastle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Nuatali Nelmes | 38,698 | 42.6 | +0.3 |
| | Independent | Kath Elliott | 18,925 | 20.8 | +20.8 |
| | Greens | Therese Doyle | 12,123 | 13.3 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal | David Compton (disendorsed) | 11,770 | 12.9 | +12.9 |
| | Independent | Rod Holding | 4,120 | 4.5 | +2.7 |
| | Independent | Ron Brown | 3,354 | 3.7 | +3.7 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Steve O'Brien | 1,909 | 2.1 | +2.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 90,899 | 95.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 4.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 81.1 | |
| Three-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Nuatali Nelmes | 40,027 | 51.8 | +1.0 |
| | Independent | Kath Elliott | 23,374 | 30.3 | +30.3 |
| | Greens | Therese Doyle | 13,801 | 17.9 | +0.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
* Changes compared with 2014 Newcastle lord mayoral by-election

### North Sydney

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Jilly Gibson | 13,791 | 42.0 | +1.5 |
| | Independent | Zoë Baker | 9,856 | 30.0 | −3.1 |
| | Independent | Jessica Keen | 6,510 | 19.8 | +19.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Kong | 2,655 | 8.1 | +8.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 32,812 | 95.4 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 4.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.6 | |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Independent | Jilly Gibson | 14,828 | 56.4 | −0.4 |
| | Independent | Zoë Baker | 11,441 | 43.6 | +0.4 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | −0.4 | |

### Orange

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Orange :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Reg Kidd | 5,196 | 21.9 | +21.9 |
| | Independent National | Russell Turner | 4,522 | 19.0 | +19.0 |
| | Independent | Kevin Duffy | 2,926 | 12.3 | +12.3 |
| | Independent | Tony Mileto | 2,017 | 8.5 | +8.5 |
| | Greens | Stephen Nugent | 1,885 | 7.9 | +7.9 |
| | Independent | Scott Munro | 1,842 | 7.8 | +7.8 |
| | Independent Labor | Jeff Whitton | 1,717 | 7.2 | +7.2 |
| | Independent | Paula Townsend | 1,621 | 6.8 | +6.8 |
| | Independent | Chris Gryllis | 1,462 | 6.2 | +6.2 |
| | Independent | Ron Gander | 576 | 2.4 | +2.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 23,764 | 95.4 | N/A |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 4.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 85.5 | N/A |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Independent | Reg Kidd | 7,159 | 54.1 | +54.1 |
| | Independent National | Russell Turner | 6,084 | 45.9 | +45.9 |
| | Independent win | Independent win | Swing | N/A | |
* This was the first time the position of mayor of Orange was directly-elected
* John Davis (Independent) was the incumbent mayor, having been first elected in 2009

### Port Stephens

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Port Stephens :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ryan Palmer | 15,079 | 35.1 | +35.1 |
| | Independent | Sally Dover | 7,668 | 17.8 | −11.3 |
| | Independent | Geoff Dingle | 6,511 | 15.1 | −19.5 |
| | Independent | Steve Tucker | 6,072 | 14.1 | +14.1 |
| | Country Labor | Des Maslen | 5,599 | 13.0 | +13.0 |
| | Independent | Peter Kafer | 2,090 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 43,019 | 94.5 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 5.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 85.0 | |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Independent | Ryan Palmer | 18,897 | 63.1 | +63.1 |
| | Independent | Sally Dover | 11,054 | 36.9 | +36.9 |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | N/A | |

### The Hills

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: The Hills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Michelle Byrne | 53,323 | 61.8 | +61.8 |
| | Labor | Tony Hay | 18,549 | 21.5 | +21.5 |
| | Independent | Jeff Lowe | 9,689 | 11.2 | +11.2 |
| | Building Australia | Ray Brown | 4,701 | 5.4 | +5.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 86,262 | 95.7 | N/A |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 4.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 81.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal win | Liberal win | Swing | N/A | |
* This was the first time the position of mayor of The Hills was directly-elected
* Yvonne Keane (Liberal) was the incumbent mayor, having been elected in 2016

### Willoughby

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Willoughby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | Gail Giles-Gidney | 24,713 | 69.5 | +18.7 |
| | Independent Liberal | Angelo Rozos | 10,869 | 30.5 | +30.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 35,582 | 95.0 | −1.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 5.0 | +1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 81.0 | +12.3 |
| | Independent Liberal hold | Independent Liberal hold | Swing | +18.7 | |
* Changes compared with 2014 Willoughby mayoral by-election

### Wollongong

2017 New South Wales mayoral elections: Wollongong :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Wollongong Independents | Gordon Bradbery | 41,581 | 35.2 | +0.2 |
| | Labor | David Brown | 32,386 | 27.4 | +8.1 |
| | Liberal | John Dorahy | 19,672 | 16.6 | −6.4 |
| | Greens | Mithra Cox | 12,291 | 10.4 | +4.7 |
| | Independent | John Mullan | 4,037 | 3.4 | +3.4 |
| | Independent | Vicki Curran | 3,280 | 2.8 | +0.4 |
| | Independent | Andrew Anthony | 1,708 | 1.4 | −0.2 |
| | Independent | Greg Petty | 1,660 | 1.4 | −0.7 |
| | Independent | Warwick Erwin | 1,590 | 1.3 | +1.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 118,205 | 95.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | 4.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 82.4 | |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Wollongong Independents | Gordon Bradbery | 47,465 | 54.2 | |
| | Labor | David Brown | 40,067 | 45.8 | |
| | Wollongong Independents hold | Wollongong Independents hold | Swing | | |