Manus gets female mayor

 MANUS now has a woman mayor.

Popular radio personality Ruth Mandrakamu beat 28 men to win the seat in the Lorengau Urban local level government yesterday morning.

Lorengau Urban LLG assistant returning officer Robert Siwer said counting for the LLG started at 10am on Sunday, and was completed at 3am yesterday when Mandrakamu was declared winner.

“We went through the process of elimination and at the 27th exclusion, she won by 722 votes,” Siwer said.

The runner-up was Poli Boias with 500-plus votes.

“This is the first time for a female to be elected as mayor here and it is about time women arise and make a breakthrough into political leadership,” Siwer said.

He said the people of Manus had voiced support for Mandrakamu.

Provincial electoral manager Pakop Posangat said seven other LLGs in the province had declared winners for president seats.

They are Aua-Wuvulu with a new president Awi Pana; Bisakani-Soparibeu saw its president Luke Siamo re-elected; PNKA with a new president Eddie Yohang, Los Negros with new president Luke Kiale, Penabu re-elected John Popot, Tetidu has a new president in Mark Mangau and Rapatona with a new president in Patrick Palek.

Posangat said the Lelemadih-Bupichupeu, Balopa and Nigoherm LLGs started counting yesterday while Pobuma would start counting tomorrow,delayed by weather.