It's official –we have a new mayor

IT'S OFFICIAL - Jennifer Whitney is the new mayor of the Whitsundays. Ms Whitney will be one of three local female mayors after Anne Baker became the new mayor of Isaac Regional Council and Deidre Comerford was elected mayor of Mackay.

The official result was declared at 11am yesterday by local government returning officer Leanne Lloyd.

Ms Whitney was on Twitter on Tuesday night announcing that counting was over and she had increased her lead.

She said on Twitter that she was looking forward to working with a fantastic team. Ms Whitney told the Whitsunday Times yesterday that there were a few issues to be tidied up straight away including the Airlie Beach main street project, the water and sewage treatment plants, the multi-cargo facility at Abbot Point and the Collinsville Power Station.

She said she was looking forward to improving organisation and communication within council so it was in-tune to deal with major issues as they presented themselves.

Ms Whitney thanked her family, friends and the general community for their support which led to the election result.

The new mayor has been involved with council for 24 years including 13 as an employee and 11 as an elected councillor.

Three new councillors have also been elected and three incumbent councillors have been re-elected.