By Esther Lauaki
Labor’s Stephen McGhie is set to replace MP Don Nardella in the seat of Melton after Saturday’s election.
Mr McGhie, a former ambulance union head, was a last minute nomination for Labor after endorsed candidate Justin Mammarella left the race in October.
So far, after first preference votes Mr McGhie leads with 4150 votes, ahead of Liberals’ Ryan Farrow (1845), Independent Ian Birchall (1544), Independent Bob Turner (949), Independent Jarrod Bingham (838), Greens’ Harkirat Singh (593), Independent Sophie Ramsey (541), Democratic Labour Party’s Victor Bennett (321), Animal Justice Party’s Tania Milton (319), Independent Daryl Lang (251), Independent Grant Stirling (106) and Victorian Socialists’ Ron Guy (77).
After preferences, he has 35.98 per cent of votes, Mr Farrow has so far received 16 per cent.
The Melton electorate takes in Bacchus Marsh, Brookfield, Darley, Exford, Hopetoun Park, Long Forest, Melton, Melton South and Merrimu as well as parts of Eynesbury, Kurunjang, Maddingley, Melton West and Parwan.
Meanwhile, Buninyong looks to stay a safe Labor seat with Michaela Settle to replace retired MP Geoff Howard.
The Buninyong electorate includes the Moorabool towns of Ballan, Bungaree, Buninyong, Elaine, Gordon, Lethbridge, Mount Egerton and Maddingley.
Ms Settle has so far received 9456 of first preference votes. Tge Liberals’ Andrew Kilmartin received 5721, Greens’ Linda Zibell 1696, Animal Justice Party’s Wendy Morrison 737, Independent Dianne Colbert 637, Independent Brendan Eckel 225, Independent Lindsay Watters 215 and Victorian Socialists’ Jane McKendrick 210.
After preferences on Saturday, Ms Settle had picked up 49.94 per cent of the votes followed by Mr Kilmartin with 30.22 per cent.
