Giovanni Italiano is the new mayor of Stirling after being elected unopposed by his fellow councillors on Tuesday night.
The former deputy mayor says he’ll continue the “Stay in Stirling” campaign led by predecessor David Boothman, who was re-elected unopposed to Balga ward but decided not to recontest the top job.
Cr Italiano says his first order of business will be to seek an urgent meeting with WA local government minister Tony Simpson “to ensure he understands the council’s resolve in this regard”.
“We cannot sit by and see parts of our council carved up to the detriment of all our ratepayers.”
In other ward news, Cr Terry Tyzack—another former mayor—was re-elected unopposed to Inglewood while veteran Lawley ward Cr Rod Willox brushed off a challenge from fellow Liberal party member Ray Wills and Zlatko Petrovski, re-elected with 51.34 per cent of the vote (2302 votes to 1267 and 915, respectively).
Cr David Michael—tipped as a future state Labor MP—stormed back into Osborne ward with 81 per cent (3634 votes), slaughtering JP Shah (858 votes) while Cr Elizabeth Re shrugged off her job woes, taking back Doubleview ward with 63.48 per cent (3376 votes) to Wayne Monks’ 1942.
In hotly contested Hamersley ward, Andrew Guilfoyle beat off six rivals—including two former councillors—to win with 34 per cent (1310 votes) while in Coastal ward Karen Caddy belted four challengers to storm in with 41.73 per cent (1967 votes).
by DAVID BELL
Perth Voice Interactive 
The story reports incorrectly on my political affiliations – for the record, I am not a member of any political party.
My reasons for running were not politically motivated – I stood because I was interested in contributing to my community and to improve the City of Stirling – the place I live in. I ran for Council because I want to see enhanced public transport options for Stirling, especially from the MAX light rail project, better cycleways and shared pathways, and improved local amenity especially parkland facilities.