Luke Smith is living the quiet life while on bail

GREYING and dishevelled as he prepares to face corruption, perjury and assault charges, suspended Logan mayor Luke Smith bears little resemblance to the clean-cut go-getter he once was.

IN 2016, Luke Smith was the clean-cut new mayor with a vision to transform Logan City’s backward image by rebranding it the southeast’s burgeoning “smart city.”

On the night of his election win, the former television cameraman-turned-councillor posed for photographers with a beaming smile, raising his pointer finger in a “No.1” symbol.

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Yesterday, Smith bore little resemblance to the enthusiastic politician with a transformation agenda.

He instead lives a low-profile existence at his father’s Meadowbrook home while awaiting court dates for a string of criminal charges laid by anti-corruption officials as part of an ongoing probe.

Suspended Logan mayor Luke Smith outside his father’s house yesterday. Picture: Annette Dew

The charges, which are next listed for mention in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday, include official corruption, perjury, assault and obstructing a police officer.

Smith, 48, was first arrested by the Crime and Corruption Commission seven months ago.

He is alleged to have agreed to receive a luxury power boat from a political donor SKL Cables in return for assistance progressing approval of its development project.

Smith, who has vowed to vigorously defend the charges, remains on suspension from his council work on full pay. He earns a base salary of $235,000 a year.

He declined to comment when contacted by The Sunday Mail last month, when he abruptly ended the call, and could not be reached yesterday.

Suspended Logan mayor Luke Smith outside his father’s house yesterday. Picture: Annette Dew

Court documents show one of Smith’s bail conditions was that he reside at room 506 at Springwood’s Hotel Gloria, where he was living up until he recently moved back in with his dad.

Smith was arrested by police in July at the same quiet street over allegations he assaulted his wife Andrea, smashed a car window and obstructed police.

Smith and his wife have separated and the family’s four-bedroom home in a gated community at Windaroo was sold in August for $610,000.

He told media last month that he had had a “tremendously stressful year”, had sought help for a drinking problem and rejected he was corrupt.

Luke Smith in more mayoral times