Controversial Newcastle councillor Allan Robinson faces an uphill battle to be re-elected next month after failing to secure a candidate grouping in ward four.
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Cr Robinson's name will appear on its own on the ward four ballot paper, separate from the grouped Labor, Liberal, Greens and independent tickets.
Voters can choose one of the candidate groups or vote below the line by numbering at least two individual candidates. Those who plump for the ungrouped Cr Robinson will be voting below the line and must also choose at least a second preference or their ballot paper will be declared invalid.
One of Cr Robinson's political rivals wrote off the former jockey's chances of winning a third term on council due to the complications of below-the-line voting.
Cr Robinson, who was elected in 2012, told the Newcastle Herald that he did not know how the voting system would affect his chances.
"I don't give a f---. Mate, I got voted in by the people; I'll get voted out by the people," he said.
"At the end of the day, I wish I never, ever went on council. I haven't got a political bone in my body, but I'm there and I do whatever I can do for anyone who rings me with a problem.
He said the "government" had designed the voting system to stop independent candidates winning.
"The bloke from the local polling booth he said, 'Hey, Robbo, you need to be in a group.' I said I don't want to do a group, mate. If I don't get voted in, I don't get voted in," he said.
Cr Robinson benefited from the above-the-line voting system in 2017 when he led a ticket of independents which included former NBN newsreader Mike Rabbitt as his No.2.
The group ticket won 4284 above-the-line votes, but Mr Rabbitt proved far more popular with those voting below the line, attracting 1156 votes to Cr Robinson's 270.
Cr Robinson was elected but Mr Rabbitt was not.
Ward two councillor Kath Elliott, who was granted a stay of proceedings last week against a six-week Office of Local Government ban, will contest ward four for the Independents on December 4 in Cr Robinson's stead.
Wallsend businessman and entertainer Wayne Rogers will lead a second ticket of independents in the ward.
Mother of two Deahnna Richardson will top Labor's ticket, Callum Pull is heading the Liberal team and Thomas Levick will lead the ward for the Greens.
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Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
