Politicians and business groups are calling for reform to local government election laws following the election of two shire presidents through names being drawn from a hat.

 

Roebourne Shire Council returned a deadlocked election for a new president, with incumbent Nicole Lockwood and Councillor Fiona White Hartig’s names being pulled out a hat, with Cr White Hartig’s winning.

 

"It's certainly not a pleasant process, it's very stressful and it's not the way you would hope it would happen," Cr White Hartig said.

 

"It needs to be looked at I think but at the moment that's the way it's determined if there's a tie."

 

The same situation also played out in the Shire of Broome, with the president elected in a process that was described as a ‘chook raffle’.

 

"It's mind-wrecking for the councillors and the people involve, It also doesn't leave you with a clear mandate, which makes it very difficult,” newly elected President of the Shire of Broome Councillor Graeme Campbell said.