Hill unbeatable, says LNP stalwart

CHALLENGERS have been warned about taking on Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill at next year’s local government election by an unlikely source.

LNP stalwart Peter Lindsay declared yesterday Labor-aligned Cr Hill was unbeatable.

The former Herbert MP and Townsville councillor said Cr Hill “hasn’t put a foot wrong” and “there’s no reason to change the mayor”.

He also said anyone standing against Cr Hill would be “wasting their time”.

Seven months out from the March poll, no one has put their hand up to challenge Cr Hill. Former Thuringowa MP Sam Cox said he was considering a tilt but had not yet made a final decision.

ANY mayoral hopeful who chooses to run against Jenny Hill would be “utterly wasting their time”, an LNP stalwart has said, as the race remains non-existent despite rampant rumours.

Former Herbert MP Peter Lindsay, who served as councillor for 11 years before entering federal politics, said Cr Hill would not be beaten.

“The next thing that you should know is that anybody who stands against Jenny at this time is wasting their time, utterly wasting their time,” he said. “She won’t be beaten; she hasn’t put a foot wrong, there’s no reason to change the mayor, other than it would be better if the mayor was of the same political colour as the Federal Government.”

Cr Hill declined to comment.

Deputy Mayor Les Walker said he could understand why no one might contest the mayoralty.

“She’s done a fantastic job and meets community expectations in so many ways,” he said. “I can understand why no one would run against her.”

A number of high-profile Townsville figures have been tipped to have a tilt against Cr Hill, including former LNP state candidate Casie Scott and Burdekin MP Dale Last.

Ms Scott emphatically rejected speculation she was planning to run for mayor and said her position on running would not change.

She had already ruled herself out as a contender in the upcoming state election.

Mr Last said he had already registered to recontest his Burdekin seat

Former Thuringowa MP Sam Cox maintained he was considering a tilt but he had not yet decided on running.

“I’m not announcing that I am running; people are talking to me, I’m considering, but at this stage I haven’t decided,” he said.

Mr Cox said he was not currently a member of any political party and had no intentions to rejoin the LNP, of which he had been a member until 2015.

“It’s not my intention to rejoin the LNP and obviously the LNP don’t want me,” he said.

Mr Lindsay said, according to usual convention, any mayoral contestant would need to put a lot of effort into campaigning.

“You need to become very well known in the community; it’s (also) preferable that you’ve done a stint in local government as a councillor so you understand what’s happening.

“Having said that, there’s been a number of examples where people have popped up at the last minute.

“It usually happens because the incumbent makes serious mistakes; that’s not likely in (Cr Hill’s) case.”

The next council election will be held on March 28, 2020.