Rod Harding set to run for Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor in 2020

AFTER achieving the best two-party preferred vote of any Labor mayoral candidate since Tim Quinn’s loss to Campbell Newman in 2004, Rod Harding is set to make a second tilt to become Lord Mayor of Brisbane.

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LABOR’S former Brisbane Lord Mayoral candidate Rod Harding is set to make a second tilt for the city’s top job.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Mr Harding has put his name forward to be Labor’s candidate for the 2020 Brisbane City Council Lord Mayoral election after the ALP called for expressions of interest.

It is understood Mr Harding’s expression of interest has been supported by the majority of Labor’s five sitting Brisbane councillors.

The Queensland Labor vice-president declined to comment when asked about his nomination yesterday.

Mr Harding squared off against Lord Mayor Graham Quirk in the 2016 election and achieved the best two-party preferred vote of any Labor mayoral candidate since Tim Quinn’s loss to Campbell Newman in 2004.

During the campaign he promised a light rail system, six months of free rates for first-home buyers and a remodelling of King George Square by adding shade and grass.

Labor’s Rod Harding plans a second attempt to become Brisbane Lord Mayor. Picture: Darren England

He also pledged to slash funding of the Kingsford Smith Dr project to fund congestion busting projects at other suburban hot spots.

Mr Harding secured nearly 32 per cent of the primary vote in 2016 – significantly less than Cr Quirk’s 53.53 per cent.

He has continued to criticise the current LNP administration on Twitter since his loss.

Cr Quirk revealed last month that he had nominated to be the LNP’s candidate for the Lord Mayoral contest in 2020, but ruled out a further run in 2024.

“I’ve got the drive and the passion, the commitment and the experience combined to make sure that we continue to take Brisbane forward,” he said at the time.

“I think it’s fair to say that the next term will be my last term.

“I think that will be the right time to move on, to refresh and renew at that stage.”

The Greens’ lone Brisbane councillor Jonathan Sri said it was likely preselection for their Lord Mayoral candidate would open early next year.