Just like comedy, it’s all in the timing
THE Gold Coast’s most important political race usually starts about now. This is for mayor of the city and the councillors in 14 divisions. Why is there only a handful of starters?
“There are now less than 600 days until the next local government elections,” a Gold Coast City Council insider said, aware the clock for the countdown has started ticking.
The council is more than halfway through its term. This is usually the starting point of the political race.
Potential candidates attend council meetings, set up stalls at farmers markets, observe and build a solid policy platform, reach out and introduce themselves to journalists.
Only mayoral candidate Brett Lambert is attending full council meetings.
Mayor Tom Tate has announced he will stand and win a third term.
Travers “Candyman” Benyon, when asked by a journalist, showed an interest in the top job. The Evandale chambers would become hotter than neighbouring HOTA.
Community groups are voicing concerns about the light rail extension south, the future of The Spit and increasing building height limits. But where are the candidates?
Firstly, consider that in the past decade only three candidates have beaten sitting councillors.
Glenn Tozer in Mudgeeraba, William OwenJones in Helensvale and Pauline Young in Burleigh did this after exhaustive on-theground campaigning.
Secondly, what about the elephant in the room at City Hall? This is the investigation launched by the state’s corruption watchdog.
Some political analysts have written that the Crime and Corruption Commission will finish its work soon and the council can quickly return to normal business.
Perhaps, but based on past investigations involving only a handful of witnesses, the CCC took 12 months. This inquiry involves many complainants and is complex.
Let’s just say that by early next year the political landscape will be much clearer. It means candidates will have only 12 months to stage an effective campaign.
“You need at least six months to run a successful campaign for a division, and much longer for the mayoralty,” the council insider says.
Which leads to the third factor about absence of candidates. How are they going to raise sufficient campaign funds?
Under the reforms of the Palaszczuk Government introduced after this newspaper’s Trojan Council reports identifying an LNP bloc during the 2016 poll, candidates cannot take money from developers or their business associates.
Which division then is the safest bet to have a run? Veteran Gary Baildon will retire in Surfers Paradise. Paul Taylor might do the same in Broadbeach.
Dawn Crichlow was expected to spend more time at the Southport Bowls Club but the mayoral office has lit up such a fire in her belly her hair has resumed its normal red colour.
In the city’s fast growing north, Deputy Mayor Donna Gates is sending out different signals, standing down from committees.
As a ratepayer, you might not know your councillor or even care about the election. But remember, for better or worse, a councillor puts brand on your area.
Gail O’Neill won in Coolangatta and has been prodevelopment, and Pauline Young in Burleigh supports light rail.
Kristyn Boulton in Labrador maintains a quiet demeanour at meetings. Peter Young in Nerang is robust about poor planning.
Hermann Vorster in Varsity Lakes has rescued abandoned trolleys and removed druggies from parks, earning him the nickname “Robocop’’.
We’ve had nude mayoral candidates, an Elvis and possibly a Candyman.
There is a genuine opponent for Councillor Tate quietly weighing up the field.
It’s all in the timing of your run.