Election results: I received the highest number of primary votes but was not elected.

The results are now in for the Boroondara City Council election in Cotham Ward. Here they are:

Candidate	First preference votes
PERRYMAN, Benjie	814 - 8.9%
BLOOM, David	2935 - 32 %
CAMPBELL, Peter	3229 - 35%
BILA, Theo	2071 - 22%

Candidate	Votes after distribution
BLOOM, David	5113
CAMPBELL, Peter	3936

For more details see:

• http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/lgresults.html
• http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/boroondararesult2008.html

Even though I got the highest primary vote (for which I am pleased) David Bloom (Liberal, works in David Davis' office) got elected by the preference flow from the other two.

It was actually quite close - if Theo Bila got ahead of David Bloom then I would have been elected. I think it is a very good sign that so many people in Cotham ward voted for a sustainable future!

I would like to thank those who helped with leaflets and scrutineering.

I would also like to thank the many people in the ward who contacted me during the campaign about local issues, and for their encouragement.

Aged care services in Cotham and Boroondara

I received a query from a Cotham Ward resident about my position on support for aged care services. On the leaflet I had printed and personally distributed across the ward (with a little help from some friends), I state that I will work to ensure vital services that allow older people to remain at home in comfort are properly provided and resourced.

To further clarify this, some improvement to these services are required for those older people who wish to stay in their home.

However, it is important that people have a choice between staying at home or moving into facilities where more care can be provided if they wish.

May such facilities, such as the Eva Tilley Memorial Home, are doing a great job. However, I am hearing from residents that there is still work to do to improve both the quantity and quality of such aged care facilities across Boroondara.