Holstein to stay as councillor

Cr Chris Holstein will continue to serve his term as a Gosford councillor after being declared the Member for Gosford at a ceremony to be held tomorrow, Tuesday, April 5.

The declaration of the poll will be held at the Dwyer Pavilion, Gosford Showground.

"I will not resign early and burden the ratepayer with an expensive by-election," he said.

"For the next 18 months, I will honour my commitments to council, no different to those councillors who balance council with their full-time job," he said.

Cr Holstein received 50.19 per cent of first preference votes.

He is estimated to have received 61.9 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, with a swing of 16.5 per cent.

Cr Holstein finished with 22,672 votes while Labor's Katie Smith gained only 27.6 per cent of first preference votes with 12,472 votes.

It is the first time in 40 years that Labor has not represented the Peninsula in State Parliament.

The last Liberal to represent the Peninsula was Mr Ted Humphries who was Member for Gosford from 1965 to 1971.

"I was very humbled by the result and very mindful of the responsibilities that are now bestowed upon me and expectations that I'm sure are there from the community in what I need to achieve," said Cr Holstein.

"I will be working hard and addressing those issues, filling my obligations and commitments that have been made.

"Beyond that there is much more that still needs to be done.

"It is not just the commitments made before the election," he said.

Cr Holstein said that, despite his massive win, he had not changed.

"I'm still Chris Holstein.

"My responsibilities change.

"My areas of responsibility are greater," he said.

He said he would stand by his commitment to Gosford Council as a councillor but would not recontest the election in September next year.

"I do not intend to re-stand.

"To resign now would cost council around $3-4 million in a by-election."

Cr Holstein said he would be moving into the electorate office of former Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrew in Woy Woy, following the declaration of the polls.

In final voting figures, Cr Holstein finished with 22,672 votes, followed by Ms Smith on 12,472, Greens candidate Cr Peter Freewater on 5391, Independent Mr Jake Cassar on 2227, Christian Democrat Party candidate Ms Ann-Marie Kitchener on 1478 and Independent Mr Patrick Aiken on 935 votes.

Kaitlin Watts, 1 Apr 2011 Interviewee: Chris Holstein Website, NSW Electoral Commission