Tasmania Deputy Mayor Wins Legislative Council Seat

Kingborough Deputy Mayor Clare Glade-Wright is heading to Tasmania's state parliament after winning the Legislative Council seat of Huon in a closely watched race.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission declared Glade-Wright elected Thursday evening. She unseated incumbent Dean Harriss, who had held the southern Tasmanian seat since 2022.

Glade-Wright received 6,319 primary votes compared to Harriss's 7,094, but a strong flow of preferences from other candidates, particularly from Greens candidate Paul Gibson, carried her to victory. The result shows how community-minded independents can build coalitions around shared values.

The mother of two and former tourism business operator ran on a platform focused on cleaning up waterways and making housing more accessible. She's particularly passionate about making it easier for people to build tiny homes, addressing housing affordability in creative ways.

Glade-Wright also took a firm stance on environmental issues. She opposes salmon farming in shallow waters and won't support expansion of the industry "until operations are moved further offshore into deeper waters or transitioned to land-based, closed systems."

The Ripple Effect

Glade-Wright's victory represents a growing trend of community independents winning seats traditionally held by major parties or long-time incumbents. She was endorsed by Climate 200, the organization that helped several "teal" independent candidates win federal seats in recent elections.

As Kingborough's deputy mayor, she built a reputation for being visible, accessible, and engaged with her community. That grassroots approach translated into electoral success, showing voters responded to her hands-on style.

"This election has not been about me personally, but all about the people of the Huon," Glade-Wright said after her win. "I am a mere player in a bigger strategy, and that is the hope that community-minded independents can change the dynamics in politics for the better."

Her priorities reflect what voters told her they wanted: cleaner water, more housing options, and environmental responsibility. Now she gets to champion those causes in Tasmania's upper house.

Glade-Wright thanked her supporters, volunteers, and fellow candidates, then turned her focus forward: "Now I look forward to working hard for the community."