The owner of a business catering for board, card and online gamers has been elected to replace former mayor Kim O’Keeffe on the Greater Shepparton City Council.
Ben Ladson is a teacher and the owner of Gamer’s Resort in Shepparton and was elected to replace Ms O’Keeffe, who stood for and won the seat of Shepparton at the state election in November, through a countback conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission.
It is the second time in the council’s current term that the countback method has been used to replace a councillor.
In July last year, former mayor Dinny Adem was re-elected to council after a similar countback of votes from the October 2020 general election.
He replaced former deputy mayor Rob Priestly, meaning the council has lost both a mayor and deputy mayor during the current term.
Mr Ladson laughed off the way he managed to win his place on council more than two years after the election, and following multiple resignations, likening it to Australian speed skater Steven Bradbury’s victory at the 2002 Winter Olympics after all his opponents fell during the race.
“I’m just fortunate, Steven Bradbury-like, to come from behind, but it is what it is,” he said.
“I’m coming in late, but open to the opportunity. I’m just looking forward to working with the current council.”
Mr Ladson said he had run twice for council, motivated by a desire to help improve the local community.
“I’ve been a local resident for most of my life,” he said.
“I’ve been a teacher for about nine years. I own a local business in Maude St, Gamer’s Resort, I do a lot of community work. I’m involved on the committee with McEwen Reserve Tennis Club and other interests locally, so I’ve been here and passionate about Greater Shepparton.”
He said his agenda included keeping rates at a “low or conservative” level and pushing some issues that were not necessarily council’s direct responsibility, such as the bypass.
Mayor Shane Sali, who himself was elected to council at the 2020 election, admitted Mr Ladson would have a lot to learn as he took up his position.
“There’s obviously a steep learning curve and a massive induction process that you need to go through, but we’ll be here to support him and look forward to working with him,” Cr Sali said.
“He’ll be one of nine and it’s the first time, I think, possibly for 12 months, that we’ve had a full deck on board, which is good. So it’s exciting, nine committed councillors now, which is great.
“I remember when I first got involved, it took a bit of time to get up to speed, but we’re all going to be here to support Ben and I’m sure he’ll pick it up quickly.”
Mr Ladson has two days to complete a declaration that he is still qualified to be a councillor, which he has indicated he will, before being sworn in within days of giving that notice.
The next council election is due in October 2024.