The West Australian Liberal Party has been accused of meddling in the City of Gosnells mayoral elections.
Gosnells councillors Ron Mitchell and Dave Griffiths alleged councillor Liz Storer was threatened by the Liberal Party to vote in support of Peter Abetz’s run for mayor, although she initially pledged her support for Mr Mitchell.
Mr Abetz is a member of the Liberal Party and the former member for Southern River.
Mr Mitchell said he could confirm there was interference by Mr Abetz and the Liberal Party but refused to elaborate.
Ms Storer spoke to The Examiner and said the suggestion was utterly false.
She said her sole focus was on representing the best interest of the ratepayers.
“Our city is fortunate to have three high calibre mayoral candidates and I am delighted with the outcome of the ballot draw,” she said.
“Mayor Glenn Dewhurst has my unconditional support and I am looking forward to working with him over the next two years.”
Mr Abetz also said the allegations of Liberal Party interference in the election was a total fabrication.
“This is totally untrue,” he said.
“I am really disappointed by the slander.”
Mr Abetz said he contacted Ms Storer and asked for her support but said he would understand if she were to support Mr Mitchell.
He also said he was delighted when he received a call from her saying she had decided to pledge her support for his campaign.
“I tried to get to the bottom of the allegations,” he said.
“Nobody in the Liberal Party had heard about the supposed person who had told Liz to vote for me.”
City of Gosnells chief executive officer Ian Cowie said the city was aware of the allegation but had not been provided with the evidence to support it.
“The Local Government Act requires that the vote for mayor occur through a secret ballot,” he said.
“Therefore the city is unable to identify who voted for which candidate.”
