Gary Simpson elected Whitsunday deputy mayor in 5-2 vote

The top leadership at Whitsunday Regional Council has been confirmed with the ascension of a Councillor to deputy mayor. Here’s how it happened.

The top leadership at Whitsunday Regional Council has been confirmed with the ascension of Councillor Gary Simpson to deputy mayor following the shock victory of former psychic Julie Hall in the Whitsunday mayor’s race.

Mr Simpson nabbed the job on a 5-2 vote following a short debate among councillors at the ordinary meeting on Wednesday morning.

Councillor Al Grundy nominated Mr Simpson for the role and spoke about his experience in the sugar industry as a reason why he would prosper in the job.

Mr Simpson, a born and raised Proserpine local, runs a cane farm at Strathdickie. He first started working on his family’s farm in 1981 and has been manager of the family business since 2000.

Having been a director of Proserpine District Canegrowers Cooperative for nine year, he is a well-known figure in the cane growing industry.

Mayor Julie Hall seconded Mr Grundy’s nomination of Mr Simpson.

Before the vote, Mr Simpson thanked Mr Grundy for the nomination and said his two years in local government had prepared him for new responsibilities.

Mr Simpson will now take on the roles and responsibilities of mayor when newly-elected Mayor Julie Hall is absent or a vacancy arises.

He will also take home a salary of $84,912, according to Whitsunday Regional Council meeting documents.

But aside from filling the mayor’s chair if a void arises, the deputy does not have any more power than a regular councillor and Mr Simpson’s term will only last for a year.

Before Mr Simpson’s nomination, Councillor John Collins nominated Councillor Mike Brunker for the job.

Mr Brunker’s nomination was shot down on a 4-3 vote, with Ms Hall, Mr Grundy, Councillor Jan Clifford and Mr Simpson voting against it.

Speaking after the vote, Mr Simpson said it was an “honour and a privilege” to be elected deputy.

“It will take a while to sink in,” he said.

Moving forward, he said his job was to “support the mayor and the council so we can have a united voice”.