Nationals candidate Katrina Hodgkinson has safely won the seat of Cootamundra with more than two thirds of first preference votes in Saturday's New South Wales state election.
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Ms Hodgkinson spent the day accumulating more than 800 kilometres on the road visiting 27 polling venues in the large electorate - arriving in Cootamundra with just two minutes to spare before voting closed, she personally confirmed to the Cowra Guardian.
She started the day at polling booths around Cowra in the north of the electorate, taking the time to present a constituent with a flag at the Cowra Public School venue.
As the day warmed up she moved south then west, swinging back around to her office to watch the results come in on Saturday evening.
She thanked all her supporters for their tireless work and said her win would not have been possible without the support of her husband Jack Saeck.
Among the supporters present was former NSW deputy premier and Cowra identity Ian Armstrong, who Ms Hodgkinson credited with inspiring her to join the Nationals back in 1995.
Mr Armstrong congratulated Ms Hodgkinson on another convincing win and reminded branch members that the work was not yet over.
In celebrating her win, Ms Hodgkinson said her primary aim was to continue winning more funding back to country areas that was lost under the Carr Labor government for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Country Labor candidate Charlie Sheahan also congratulated Ms Hodgkinson and thanked all his supporters.
In particular he thanked his campaign office volunteers Noel Wilson and Merrilyn Carney, granddaughter of a founding member of the ALP.
Mr Sheahan said he was happy to have played his part in raising the local profile of the ALP, and hopes now to get a local branch off the ground.
"I'm going to keep pursuing, keep lobbying, and keep Katrina honest and hold her to her promises," Mr Sheahan said.
- with the Cootamundra Herald
Billimari Hall - Ms Hodgkinson 125 of the 179 formal votes, initial count complete.
Cowra Public - Ms Hodgkinson 1,044 of the 1,675 formal votes, initial count complete
Cowra Tennis Club - Ms Hodgkinson 867 of the 1,167 formal votes, initial count complete.
Gooloogong War Memorial - Ms Hodgkinson 167 of the 213 formal votes, initial count complete.
Koorawatha Public - Ms Hodgkinson with 121 of 201 formal votes, initial count complete.
Morongla Creek Hall - Ms Hodgkinson 129 of the 145 formal votes, initial count complete
Mulyan Public - Ms Hodgkinson 592 of the 1,023 formal votes, initial count complete.
Woodstock Public - Ms Hodgkinson 207 of the 306 formal votes, initial count complete.
Wyangala Dam Public - Ms Hodgkinson 40 of the 64 formal votes, initial count complete.
(source, tr.elections.nsw.gov.au/la-home.htm#la/cootamundra/fp_)
Pre-poll votes are still being counted.