Senior councillors Peter Matic and Adrian Schrinner to square-off in mayoral contest
The contest for Brisbane’s next Lord Mayor is shaping up as a two horse race, with two senior LNP councillors putting their hands up for the role. Labor’s mayoral candidate says it’s unfortunate voters won’t get to be involved in the choice.
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THE contest for Brisbane’s next Lord Mayor is shaping up as a two horse race, with two of the LNP’s most senior councillors putting their hands up for the role.
The Courier-Mail can reveal both Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Community Services Chairman Cr Peter Matic will square off for the city’s top job when LNP councillors meet on Sunday.
It comes after Lord Mayor Graham Quirk announced today that he would be bowing out of politics after more than three decades in local government.
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Meanwhile, the council’s Finance Chairman Cr Krista Adams has also confirmed she will stand for the deputy mayoral position.
Sources have also told The Courier-Mail that Field Services Chairman Cr Vicki Howard could also make a tilt for the number two job.
Whoever wins Sunday’s ballot will officially be sworn in as the next Lord Mayor at a special council meeting on Monday, April 8.
Cr Schrinner was first elected to the council in 2005, where he currently represents the Chandler Ward.
He was elevated to Deputy Mayor in 2011 when Graham Quirk became Lord Mayor, and most recently has served as the council’s Public and Active Transport Chairman.
Cr Matic became councillor for Paddington Ward in 2007, and has won re-election for the past three elections.
He has been a member of the Civic Cabinet for more than a decade, most recently serving as Chairman for Lifestyle and Community Services.
Meanwhile Brisbane City Council’s Finance Chairman Cr Krista Adams will make a tilt for Deputy Mayor when the LNP party room meets on Sunday.
Cr Adams confirmed to The Courier-Mail she would be nominating for the number two job at council.
It comes after it was revealed current Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner would be throwing his hat in the ring for the Lord Mayoralty.
Cr Adams has been a councillor since 2008, and currently represents the Holland Park Ward and serves as the council’s Finance Chairman.
Sources have told The Courier-Mail that Cr Schrinner and Cr Adams are not running on a ticket for the two roles.
LABOR RESPONDS TO LORD MAYORAL SHAKE UP
Labor’s Lord Mayoral candidate Rod Harding has congratulated his former rival Graham Quirk on his retirement from politics.
Flanked by Labor councillors and candidates for the 2020 Council election, Mr Harding said it was too early to say if the move would boost his chances of winning next year’s poll.
He said it was unfortunate that voters would not get the right to decide the next Lord Mayor, with the LNP party room to meet on Sunday to determine who would get the top job.
“(Residents) don’t get a say on who the next caretaker mayor is going to be and the fact that the LNP gets to decide is really a sad day for Brisbane,” he said.
“We’re going to have a Lord Mayor who has not been elected by the people of Brisbane.
“I was on the last ballot, and no one who is putting their hand up for the caretaker role was on that ballot.”
Cr Quirk’s decision to retire within 12 months of the next council election allows the LNP to appoint whoever they want to fill the vacancy.
Mr Harding, who also ran as Labor’s lord mayoral candidate in 2016, would not comment on Cr Quirk’s legacy, but said he wished him well for the future.
“Graham was very gracious in his retirement words when he said that it’s time for renewal,” he said.
“I think it’s time for change at Brisbane.”
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