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GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate will run for a record fourth term in 2024, saying he still has the “fire in the belly” for the city’s top civic job.
Cr Tate, at age 63, said he believed he had the energy and passion for another term, which would take him through until 2028.
Cr Tate was first elected in 2012 and if he wins in 2024 and serves his full term, he’d be the Gold Coast’s longestserving mayor.
His decision to run again ends months of speculation. It increases the likelihood of high-profile potential challengers such as Gold Coast Titans co-owner Rebecca Frizelle and Surfers Paradise MP John-paul Langbroek not running in 2024.
Both have indicated interest in the Mayoralty but have said they would not take on Cr Tate.
Cr Tate said he had talked about running again with his family and they had urged him to “follow my passion, which is this city’’.
“Someone said to me that in the United States, I would be viewed as being in my prime as far as my age is concerned,’’ he said.
“I feel as though I am very much in touch with what the Coast needs and the fire still burns strongly.
“(Wife) Ruth and I love serving the people and realistically, age doesn’t even come into my thinking right now.’’
His decision to publicly announce his candidature for 2024 comes after a tumultuous few months where his appointment of Pastor Sue Baynes – a so-called spiritual adviser to a “Councillor Adviser” role on his staff – has dominated headlines. She has publicly espoused extreme Christian views dubbed the Seven Mountain Mandate.
Cr Tate said: “I can understand people’s interest in this appointment but what has been missed in all of this is that the officer is not engaged as a spiritual adviser. Every time the media reports that, it is factually wrong.
“The role is to bring the many faith-based groups in our city together to see where, and how, they can better partner on critical social issues like homelessness, addiction and domestic and family violence.
“The media has leapt on the officer’s private views, which may make for good headlines for the print press, but like every other employee in council, the officer cannot allow private views to impact their work … and she isn’t.
“The idea that the Councillor Adviser is somehow giving me spiritual advice is misleading.
“Under State legislation, a Councillor Adviser, or any council employee, cannot allow their private views to influence their work.’’
Cr Tate said he would stand in 2024 on his record in guiding Australia’s second biggest local authority, with a budget bigger than Tasmania.
Cr Tate said reducing rates in 2011 was his main electoral platform and this had been achieved by ensuring no increases would exceed CPI.
“I’m very proud of how we’ve delivered; on frontline services,’’ he said.
Cr Tate said he had ended council dysfunction.
“Prior to 2011, councillors had established in this place a chamber of disunity and division,’’ he said.
“I ended that by ensuring transparency and there were no more backroom deals being done.’’
Cr Tate said he had engineered the scheme for free seniors and veterans travel on buses.
“The deal I struck with the state allows veterans and seniors to utilise empty bus seats during off-peak periods,’’ Cr
Tate said. “We pay the fares but it is money well spent and we now have more than 40,000 seniors signed up.
“The deal should be extended to the light rail and it’s only Transport Minister Mark Bailey that stands in the way of that.’’
Cr Tate said his most impressive achievement was the arts and cultural precinct, the Home of the Arts (HOTA).
“HOTA is our heart and soul,’’ he said.
“In Brisbane, that arts precinct is dripping in state money and we have received zero. So we spent $135 million on HOTA. It would be nice for the state to support the arts on the Gold Coast like we do.’’
Cr Tate said while he loved the smell of wet concrete, he enjoyed the city’s green space.
“We are now planning a 220-hectare “greenheart’’ that extends from Robina to Merrimac. Again, not a cent from the feds.’’
Cr Tate said his main priority in his 2024 election bid would be to ensure the final stage of the light rail goes ahead from Burleigh to Coolangatta.
“We have committed to stages 1, 2 and 3 and we must now finish stage 4. It never gets cheaper building something tomorrow. Compared to today.’’
Cr Tate said he also wanted to ensure that the Gold Coast was not short-changed in Olympics infrastructure provision.
“We’re being treated like second-class citizens by the State when it comes to the Olympics,’’ he said. “Look at the golf. You can’t compare Royal Pines and what it brings to the table, compared to that terrible course they’ve got it planned for in Brisbane.
“They need to wake up in George Street.’’
During his most recent term, Cr Tate was investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission, and cleared.
He had a running battle with former CCC chair Alan Mcsporran.
“The accusations were baseless,’’ he said. “Mcsporran is gone and I’m here. Enough said.’’
Cr Tate urged Cr Peter Young, a Greenie who he beat in 2012, to also run for mayor.
“I think that would be a good contest because he does tell me he has a strong following,’’ Cr Tate said.