REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Wednesday March 10, 2004

THE Gold Coast mayoral candidates came face to face for the first time.

In what was a warm-up to the upcoming mayoral debate, the long-time incumbent, the former Olympian, the Elvis impersonator and the Greens candidate faced a Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce meeting at Coolangatta to voice their policies.

Mayor Gary Baildon, Ron Clarke, Dean Vegas and Ian Latto sat at a long table in front of the audience in a stark seminar room, Mr Clarke at one end and Cr Baildon at the other.

Although the meeting was primarily a forum instead of a debate, the obvious tension in the air was proof that the mayoral race was hotting up.

Cr Baildon and Mr Clarke avoided eye contact for the duration of the meeting, only sharing a quick handshake when Cr Baildon left the room for a prior engagement.

Mr Clarke was the first speaker and used the opportunity to announce the key element of his rates and finance policy: a 12-month total freeze on rates for homeowners across the Gold Coast.

He also announced flamboyant entertainer Mr Vegas would get his first preference, and the Greens his second.

The former running legend, who slammed Cr Baildon’s election-eve ”changes of direction”, sat with his head bowed for most of the Mayor’s speech.

Cr Baildon briefly touched on the rates issue, and addressed issues such as employment, education, environment, roads and water.

Mr Clarke went on to win.