Alexandra Falls
The declaration of the poll for the McEwen electorate was announced in Seymour yesterday.
Labor party candidate and Broadford resident Rob Mitchell took out the top spot with 45,374 first preference votes and was officially declared the Federal Member for McEwen.
Mr Mitchell said he had waited a long time to hear that phrase and thanked locals for their support.
He said he was proud and honoured to represent the people of McEwen.
“I am committed to working hard with the great communities across McEwen to deliver on all my promises,” said Mr Mitchell.
Unlike the incredibly tight margin of the 2007 election, which saw the then Liberal candidate for McEwen win by 31 votes, this year Rob Mitchell’s lead was a lot clearer.
He topped Liberal candidate Cameron Caine by 3,320 votes and gained the seat of McEwen with 55.32 per cent to 44.68 per cent as the two party preferred candidate.
Mr Caine, a Kinglake resident and former police officer, collected 42,054 votes.
Greens candidate Steve Meacher came in third with 12,440 votes, a huge leap in support for the Toolangi resident who received only 8,387 votes in 2007.
Family First candidate Belinda Clarkson followed Mr Meacher with 3,358 supporters, with Liberal Democrat Mark Bini winning 1,332 votes.
Robert Gordon, representing the Secular Party of Australia, gained 549 votes.






