18 hands up for Bunbury council

A field of 18 people will contest six positions on Bunbury City Council at the October 17 election, the biggest number of candidates since 1999.

The candidates include five councillors, a former Bunbury mayor, and a mix of business, sporting and community figures.

Returning officer Michael Farren held a draw for positions on the ballot paper at the Bunbury City Council chambers yesterday.

The order of candidates drawn was:

1. Betty McCleary

2. Findlay Osborn

3. Sam Morris

4. Neville McNeill

5. Terry Hopkins

6. Victor Van Neil

7. Monique Warnock

8. Ron Krikke

9. Clinton Knop

10. Joel McGuinness

11. David Smith

12. Brendan Kelly

13. Michael McKelvie

14. Murray Cook

15. Sharon Woods

16. Joanna Hugues-Dit-Ciles

17. Brad Pilatti

18. Michael Finn

The election will be held via postal vote only and the first election packages, which include voting forms, will be sent from September 21-23.

According to the Western Australian Electoral Commission, about half of electors who return their packages do so in the first five business days.