Bunbury mayoral candidates set to face off in Q&A ahead of election

Eight of the candidates vying to be the next City of Bunbury Mayor will tonight go head-to-head in a one-off question-and-answer session with residents.

Michael Southwell, Tresslyn Smith, Gabi Ghasseb, Jaysen de San Miguel, Amanda Yip, Michelle Steck, Cheryl Kozisek and David Kerr will be at the Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industry Meet the Mayoral Candidates evening.

The local government elections is on October 16 and the session is expected to be the only event of its kind.

Betty McCleary and Alfred Leigh were the only two in the 10-person race for the top council spot to turn down invitations.

Mayor Gary Brennan officially announced this month he would not re-nominate which created the 10-candidate contest.

Six of the candidates are current councillors at the city, including Cr Smith, Cr Yip, Cr Steck, Cr McCleary and Cr Kozisek, as well as Cr de San Miguel who is Deputy Mayor.

Also among the contenders is Cr Southwell, who is the outgoing Shire of Capel president.

Postal vote packages are sent to electors about three weeks before election day and are to be returned by 6pm on October 16. The election count will begin at 6pm the same day, with the successful candidates named later that evening.

City of Bunbury mayor and councillors are elected for four-year terms, with half the councillor positions ending each election.

Bunbury elections are held every two years on the third Saturday in October.

The Meet the Mayoral Candidates event will begin at 5pm at the chamber building and is open to BGCCI members and non-members.

Registration for the free evening is essential.