Mayor’s historic triumph
Tom Tate defied history and predictions of a late surge towards his opponents to be reelected for a fourth term as the Gold Coast’s mayor.
It’s undoubtedly a big achievement, something nobody has previously achieved in this city, and sets the stage for Mr Tate’s reign to extend to 16 years.
The defeat was never seriously expected. The mayor ran a much stronger campaign than his eight opponents, many of whom either announced their candidacy as nominations closed or kept a low-profile.
Mr Tate comparably laid out an ambitious agenda focus on infrastructure and economyboosting projects including the light rail extension, Home of the Arts expansion and a giant waste to energy facility in the city’s north.
Whatever you think of the mayor, voters had a clear view of what he was campaigning on and planned to deliver.
The same could not be said of some other candidates who did little to make their case for election. So what does the future hold for city hall?
Mr Tate claims a mandate to deliver on his election agenda but there are many unknowns facing him.
At least three new councillors will be in the chamber come next month and that number could be higher if incumbents Ryan BayldonLumsden and Gail O’Neill fail to secure re-election.
Both were behind when counting paused on Saturday night.
How these new councillors vote and how their presence changes the dynamic within the chamber will be one of the key storylines to follow in coming months.
The next four years will be critical in terms of setting up the Coast’s role in hosting the 2032 Olympic Games.
It will also be important in dealing with the housing crisis, population growth and economic revival post-Covid.
Revamping the Southport CBD and central Surfers Paradise are also key concerns of the region.
Our city leaders have a big task ahead of them.
They cannot afford to remain idle.