LABOR'S Declan Clausen looks to have snagged the empty seat on Newcastle City Council.
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The 22-year-old is certain to fill the vacant seat in ward 3 left by Nuatali Nelmes, who was elected as lord mayor late last year after the resignation of Jeff McCloy.
As The Star went to press on Monday, Mr Clausen had secured 42.95 per cent of the first preference votes, while independent Kath Elliot managed 38.37 per cent.
The Greens' Nevenka Bareham was third with 10.41 per cent, followed by independents Allan Warren (6.19 per cent) and Arjay Martin (2.08 per cent).
The results will not be officially declared until later in the week.
If Mr Clausen is elected, the Labor-Greens majority will have control of the council.
Mr Clausen was formerly the Newcastle Young Citizen of the Year and captain of Lambton High School.
He previously worked on Newcastle council's ClimateCam and TogetherToday programs.
Only 73 per cent of people living in Ward 3 in Newcastle voted in the election.
Those who did not vote could face a $55 fine.