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The contenders vying to become Brisbane's next lord mayor
By Lucy Stone
Brisbane's next lord mayor will be selected in a closed-door meeting of the LNP party room on Sunday, after Graham Quirk announced he would step down from the role on April 7.
His successor will be officially sworn in the following week, in a special council meeting.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner.Credit: File
Deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner (Chandler) is the most likely candidate but other powerful LNP councillors are expected to be considered.
Lifestyle and Community Services chairman Peter Matic (Paddington) confirmed he would run for the leadership role.
"I can confirm I will be nominating for lord mayor," Cr Matic said.
"Our administration has a great track record of delivering for residents and I want to serve the people of Brisbane at the next level and make our city even greater."
Council's committee chairs hold considerable power in the lord mayor's cabinet and some may be considering a push for the leadership.
Krista Adams (Holland Park), Peter Matic (Paddington), Amanda Cooper (Bracken Ridge) and Matthew Bourke (Jamboree), all committee chairs, could be considered for the top job.
The most likely contender, Cr Schrinner stepped into the deputy mayor role in 2011, having first arrived at City Hall in a 2005 by-election.
Re-elected in the following three general elections, Cr Schrinner kept the role of deputy while also being the public and active transport committee chair.
Cr Schrinner has had oversight of the Brisbane Metro project, a $900 million public transport overhaul of the city's central public transport, and has championed CityCycle and other public transport projects.
Cr Quirk announced his resignation on Friday morning, saying he would step down eight years to the day of taking the place of former LNP mayor Campbell Newman.
The new mayor will step into the role 12 months out from the next council election, with several other LNP councillors having announced or expected to announce their own departures.
Julian Simmonds for Walter-Taylor farewelled the council chamber on Tuesday's council meeting as he prepares for a tilt at federal politics as the preselected LNP candidate for the seat of Ryan.
And long-term councillors Norm Wyndham (McDowall) and Ian McKenzie (Coorparoo) are both predicted to step down ahead of the council election, shaking up the long-standing LNP dominance in council.