FORMER Sutherland Shire mayor Carol Provan is running neck-and-neck in A Ward with Liberal Scott Williams, who is No. 2 on councillor Kevin Schreiber's ticket.
If Mr Williams does not get in, Cr Provan will be returned to the council as Cr Kevin Schreiber has given her his preferences.
Cr Provan said she was hopeful.
"It is a very different result to four years ago as it seems to me a lot people have not followed the 'party ticket' but have voted for the person," she said.
Her former deputy mayor, George Capsis, did not win a spot but has preferenced Cr Provan.
Mr Capsis thanked the community for allowing him to serve on the council for the past four years.
"In the shire we are blessed with competent staff who have given me and the other councillors good support," he said.
Labor's Phil Blight could be returned in B Ward, with Labor newcomer Diedree Steinwall securing D Ward.
Labor's Stefanie Jones in A Ward and Peter Scaysbrook in C Ward are battling Shire Watch.
Liberal team leader Kent Johns said there could be eight or nine Liberals, a Putting the Shire First independent Bruce Walton, and five Labor councillors.
He predicted that A Ward would be Liberal Kevin Schreiber, Labor's Stefanie Jones and either independent Carol Provan or the Liberals' Scott Williams, while in B Ward it would be Cr Johns, the Liberals' Tracy Cook and Phil Blight.
C Ward would be the Liberals' Hassan Awada, the ALP's Peter Scaysbrook and either the Liberals' Tom Croucher or Putting the Shire First independent Craig McCallum.
D Ward would be Liberal Carmelo Pesci, the ALP's Deirdree Steinwall and Putting the Shire First's Bruce Walton.
E Ward looked like being Liberal Steve Simpson and John Riad and either Shire Watch Independents Peter Towell or Putting the Shire First's Craig Clifton.
The Liberal's elder statesman, Cr Kevin Schreiber, who has just won his fifth election campaign, said that on current trends the final mix of council looked a possible eight Liberals, two independents and five Labor.
"It's a very good mix of youth and experience," Cr Schreiber said.
"The community has shown what they want with this result and we all worked very hard to put across what we wanted to do."
Cr Phil Blight said: "The Liberals' vote is only 42 per cent but they have control of the council."
He said their campaign had avoided local issues and concentrated on irrelevant federal matters, and he doubted they would oppose extra high-rise.
What do you think of the poll results?
