Pam Kensit aims to run as Upper Lachlan Shire's first female mayor

The councillor of the past five years has so far topped the poll with 566 out of the 4411 counted. It represents 1.35 times the 420-vote progressive quota.

"I feel quite humbled," Mrs Kensit said on Tuesday.

"I worked hard on the campaign and I was very lucky to have the support of my husband, David."

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She drove 4600km and walked 137km over four weeks as part of the campaign in the vast council area.

Living on a property 48km from Crookwell, Mrs Kensit said she made a point of reaching the rural areas and listening to "the voiceless."

"Their concerns are roads, roads and roads," she told The Post.

Transgrid's plans for a transmission line through the area did not initially rate highly in people's minds but came to the fore at a Meet the Candidates night.

The Goulburn to Crookwell rail trail was also topical. People weren't necessarily for or against but were worried about biosecurity on their properties if it went ahead and "lack of consultation."

Mrs Kensit has been the sole female on the nine-member council since 2016. But the fact hasn't bothered her.

"They treated me as an absolute equal in every sense and not for one second have I felt less empowered than (the men). In fact it has been empowering," she said.

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Now she has signalled her intention to run as Upper Lachlan Shire Council's first female mayor.

John Stafford, who was elected to the council in 2016 and served as mayor from 2018 to 2021, was sitting in third spot with 501 votes on Tuesday.

He was reluctant to declare himself elected.

"But it is looking pretty good for most of the past councillors. I think they can feel reasonably comfortable at this stage but we'll wait and see," Mr Stafford said.

He had not decided whether he would run again as mayor, if elected.

The council looks likely to include more females if trends continue. Mandy McDonald, Susan Reynolds and Jo Marshall are currently placed sixth, seven and eighth.

Ms Marshall previously served on the council from 2012 to 2016.

"It's wonderful to see them doing so well. Hopefully there will be four women on the council," Mrs Kensit said.

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Upper Lachlan has 6853 eligible voters. Postal and i-votes are yet to be counted. There were 220 informal votes, representing five per cent.

The vote count so far is:

Pam Kensit* - 566

Darren O'Brien* - 526

John Stafford* - 501

John Searl* - 448

Paul Culhane* - 396

Mandy McDonald - 389

Susan Reynolds - 349

Jo Marshall - 337

Nathan McDonald - 207

Lauren Woodbridge - 193

Graham Dyer - 155

Colin Davis - 124

* Denotes former councillor

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