Bridgid O’Brien was today elected as a Councillor for the City of Yarra.

Cr O’Brien was elected by a count back undertaken by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC), following the resignation of former councillor Mike McEvoy in April.

Cr O’Brien is a resident of Alphington and a socialist-feminist. She will serve in the Nicholls ward.

Her priorities for her term as a councillor include appropriately managing new development and protecting our natural environment.

“I’ve been a local all my life. One of my concerns is how development is going to impact the local environment and other species that we are so lucky to live with.”

Cr O’Brien has a lifelong interest in local politics. She is currently on leave from a PhD in Biostatistics focusing on Aboriginal health, and is also studying Ornithology (the study of birds). She has been on the organising committee of the Music from the Wetlands Festival, a community event, for many years.

In the count back, votes for former councillor Mike McEvoy were redistributed to eligible unsuccessful candidates according to the voters' preferences.

In the first count back undertaken on Monday 6 May, Danielle Wilson was the successful candidate, however she declined the role due to her changed personal circumstances.

A second count back was undertaken on Wednesday 8 May, and Cr O’Brien was declared elected by the VEC and accepted the role.