Make up of leaders in Geraldton means rural population to be well represented: former mayor Shane van Styn

Former Geraldton mayor Shane van Styn says the Mid West’s rural population will have never had greater representation, if the results of the 2025 State election remain as projected. Based on the available election data, Nationals candidate Kirrilee Warr is set to be the next member for Geraldton, while fellow party candidates Julie Freeman and Rob Horstman are set to become Upper House MPs. Nationals leader Shane Love declared victory for the new Mid-West electorate last week. The results, along with Bringo farmer Jerry Clune’s win in 2023 to become the City of Greater Geraldton mayor, led Mr van Styn to say those living in rural areas would have strong representation. “It’s a good time to be a farmer,” he said. “It just means that Geraldton will become a focus for rural issues, and that’s in contrast with particularly Greater Geraldton, who tries to see itself as a city of the north. “It’s peculiar that the City of Greater Geraldton is going to be represented by a mayor from Bringo, an MP from Yuna, two Upper House (MLCs) from Northampton and Mullewa. “Whether it means anything or not, I don’t know, but it certainly means our rural populations will be extremely well represented here in Geraldton and the Mid West.” Labor MP Sandra Carr looks likely for another term in the Legislative Council, with the ABC predicting at least 15 seats will be held by the party with Ms Carr being 14th on her party’s ticket. Liberal candidate Kathryn Jackson, who was 11th on her party’s ticket, was still waiting on her fate, with the party securing 10 seats and likely to claim one more, according to reports. Mr van Styn was still holding out hope of a second-place or better finish in the race for the seat of Geraldton as the count continues. The latest data, with 75 per cent of votes counted, showed he had claimed 20.6 per cent of the primary vote, 882 votes behind Labor’s Lara Dalton who was 1113 votes behind Ms Warr. However, the Nationals candidate was not willing to declare victory at this stage, electing to respect the WA Electoral Commission process. “It is clear that I am on track to win the seat of Geraldton,” Ms Warr said in a statement. “However, no official result has been declared yet. “It is important to respect the electoral process, and I will wait for the official declaration from the WA Electoral Commission before making any further statements. “I am absolutely thrilled by the support we have received, and I am so grateful to the people of Geraldton for putting their trust in the Nationals.”