No cash splash needed

The bargain-basement campaign that paid off

TOM Tate claimed a record third term as Gold Coast Mayor by spending a fraction of what he forked out for previous campaigns.

The $58,632 Councillor Tate spent to retain office was 70 per cent less than what it cost him four years ago. His 2020 election budget worked out to be 40¢ for each of the 148,154 registered voters who backed him at the ballot box.

New Electoral Commission of Queensland disclosure data also shows Cr Tate’s main rival Mona Hecke spent $31,951 for the March 28 poll. That equates to about 48¢ for each of her 66,043 votes.

The 2020 budgets are in contrast to the money spent for each mayoral race since 2004.

Cr Tate spent $182,000 in 2016 and $340,000 in 2012.

Former two-time mayor Ron Clarke spent $200,000 and $150,000 during his 2004 and 2008 runs, respectively.

“Being my third term, I was relying on people voting on my track record – my have-a-go spirit and my open-for-business approach,” Cr Tate said on Wednesday.

This year’s election was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes included candidates being forced to stop using how-to-vote cards.

Cr Tate effectively ceased campaigning in the final fortnight before the election, when he turned his attention to dealing with the escalating coronavirus crisis.

Griffith University political expert Professor Paul Williams said Cr Tate’s incumbency meant he did not have to spend on the same level as previous campaigns.

“It was a very unusual election because of the COVID situation,” he said. “Tom Tate did not need to spend much because he was the favourite going in and had enormous momentum.” mayoral