A day of high drama in the Gold Coast election

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate clinched a record-breaking fourth term, while a city councillor facing a murder charge was facing a battle to retain his seat.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has clinched a record-breaking fourth term while a city councillor facing a murder charge was facing an uphill battle to retain his seat after a drama-charged Election Day on the Glitter Strip.

On a day when Dracula’s cabaret performers scrambled to get their votes in before their nightly show, it was Councillor Tate who drew first blood in the nine-candidate mayoral race, claiming a decisive victory.

Mayor Tom Tate hands out how to vote material at the Bundall polling booth at the council chambers. Picture: Glenn Campbell

But Division Seven Councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden – suspended from serving since he was charged with the murder of his stepfather Robert Lumsden in August last year, was the main talking point as he pushed for re-election in one of the most hotly-contested seats on the Gold Coast.

While Queensland Premier Steven Miles has already foreshadowed another suspension should Councillor Bayldon-Lumsden be re-elected, the first-term representative of the central Gold Coast seat was locked in a three-way tussle for Division Seven.

Counting on Saturday night had Councillor Bayldon-Lumsden trailing local electorate worker Joe Wilkinson and community activist Jenna Schroeder though the final result is likely to be decided by preferences and postal votes.

He said Election Day had been “really positive” with many voters wishing him luck as they headed to the polling booths, but was philosophical as the counting showed his seat in danger of slipping away.

“This community is so much of who I am, so I won’t be far away,” he said.

“I volunteer at a food service called Show the Way each Monday - that’ll be my first appointment after today.”

Murder-accused Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden at the Arundel State School. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Councillor Tate, who had publicly backed Councillor Bayldon-Lumsden’s right to run, turned the night into a double celebration – after he and wife Ruth had chalked up their 44th wedding anniversary the previous day.

“I said we couldn’t go out last night but I would make it up to her by taking her out tonight,” he said from his election party at the Southport Bowls Club.

Several mayors had served for three terms in the history of the Gold Coast, but none had reached a fourth until Councillor Tate’s emphatic win this time round.

But he said he was focused on the future and not on accolades.

“It’s not about records, it’s about what else I can do for the Gold Coast,” he said.

“It’s like when Test cricketers get asked about the records they have just broken – they are more focused on what’s coming next – one ball at a time.”

He listed extending the city’s light rail network as a future priority.

“People want to know what you’re going to do next,” he said.

By late Saturday night, Councillor Tate had secured about half the vote, with his nearest rival, former city councillor Eddy Sarroff, the closest challenger with 19 per cent.

No other candidate was above 10 per cent.

While several seats remained too close to call on Saturday night, the Gold Coast City Council is already guaranteed a major shake-up with four sitting councilors not contesting this election.