EIGHTEEN candidates will seek to fill nine councillor positions when Oberon goes to the polls next month.
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After looking like it might be a second uncontested local government election, with only nine candidate nominations, numbers had swelled by the time nominations closed at noon on Wednesday.
Current councillors Kathy Sajowitz (independent), Ian Doney, Neil Francis (independent), Kerry Gibbons, Sam Lord (independent) and Clive McCarthy (independent) have all confirmed they want to serve again on council.
Also on the NSW Electoral Commission nomination list are Andrew McKibbin, Jacque Wilson, Janet Baljeu (independent), Don Capel, Bob Mills (independent), Owen Rogers (independent), Mark Kellam (independent), Karl Safranek, Brenda Lyon (independent), Gregory Bourne (independent), Mick McKechnie and Ian Tucker (independent). The Oberon Council election will be held on September 9 after it was postponed last year because Oberon was fighting its forced council amalgamation with Bathurst.
The returning officer conducted the ballot paper draw at 6pm on Wednesday to determine the position of the candidates on the ballot paper.
The final list of candidates for each council will be published in ballot paper order on the NSW Electoral Commission website.
The Oberon Business and Tourism Association will hold a “meet the candidates” evening at the Oberon RSL Club on Wednesday, August 23 at 7pm.
The association says it will be an opportunity to hear the candidates talk about what they will bring to Oberon Council if they are elected, as well as to have a chat with the individual candidates after the forum.
All residents who are eligible to vote are invited to attend the evening.
Pre-poll voting for the local government elections opens on August 28.
Political parties and candidates contesting the elections have been reminded they are subject to donation caps, which have been adjusted for inflation from July 1, 2017.
Donations are now capped at $6100 per financial year, per donor, to any registered political party or group.
Donations made by a donor in a financial year to an unregistered party, elected member, candidate or third-party campaigner are now capped at $2700.
"Everyone must know and follow the laws," NSW Electoral Commissioner John Schmidt said. "This is especially true for candidates, donors, and third-party campaigners in council areas having their first election since these laws came in."