Clint Swadling voted in as new councillor on Livingstone Shire Council
Livingstone Shire Councillors have voted for who will replace outgoing councillor Nigel Hutton, with a well-known family’s council legacy to continue.
Rockhampton
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A new councillor has been decided to replace the vacancy of Nigel Hutton at Livingstone Shire Council.
Clint Swadling was selected by councillors and the mayor out of 16 nominations.
Mr Swadling is the son of former long-serving Rockhampton region councillor Rose Swadling, and is involved with volunteer rural fire fighters - serving as the Kunwarara Rural Fire Brigade’s 1st Officer.
Mr Hutton announced in January he was resigning and under the local government legislation, as his resignation took effect in the last 12 months of the council term, a by-election would not be held and the remaining councillors will appoint a candidate until the March 2024 elections.
Mr Hutton was first elected in 2014 and over the years served as deputy mayor and many portfolio, before serving his last day as a councillor on March 31.
Nominations for the vacant role included Helen Schweikert, Doris Bell, Katrina Houghton, Clint Swadling, Wade Rothery, Jillian Neyland, Kameron Johnson, Heath Henwood, Anthony White, Lance Warcon, Warren Maltby, Francois Gallais, Peter McCasker, Michael Decman, Karin Schuett and Bernadette Melrose.
A public council meeting was held on Tuesday, April 18 and live-streamed online.
Mayor Andy Ireland opened the meeting and CEO Cale Dendle explained the process.
The six councillors discussed conflicts of interest with the candidates.
The councillors signalled a preference to conduct an informal ballot to select the successful candidate.
Ballot papers were distributed between councillors who voted on a first preference basis.
During the first round of voting Helen Schweikert received two votes, Clint Swadling received two votes, Doris Bell had one vote and Anthony White had one vote.
Councillors voted again between those four candidates only in a second round of voting, again on a first preference basis.
After the second round of voting Mr Swadling received four votes - the majority - and was the successful candidate.
After the voting process Mayor Andy Ireland left the room to call and notify Mr Swadling of his election.
Speaking to The Morning Bulletin minutes after he received the news from the mayor, Mr Swadling said he was “very honoured to be picked for the role”.
He emphasised to him it’s all about the community.
“Local government is not about politics, it’s about people,” he said.
“I hope I can do the constituents best I can for the time, I am certainly up to the challenge.”
Living at Kunwarara, he will be a representative for the far northern edges of the Livingstone Shire Council boundary with Ogmore, The Caves, Marlborough and Canoona.
“It’s an area that hasn’t had a lot of representation in the past,” he said.
“It’s a wide range, pastoral and a lot of industry.”
Born and bred in Rockhampton, he worked in nursing and corrective services for some time and then local laws and regulatory areas for Rockhampton and Mackay councils.
He moved away for some time and worked as the community safety manager for the Pilbara shire in Western Australia and completed a short stint for Barcaldine Regional Council.
“So I understand the workings of local government and the challenges, the budget issues, the disaster, but (am) certainly looking forward to meeting those challenges.”
His mother Rose was a councillor for 26 years and retired in 2020 but still remains heavily involved in the community and volunteering.
“When you have a grounded background and see that side of local government, when you’re dealing with community and people… you can only want to have a go yourself,” he said of his mother’s influence.
The details of the formalities are still being worked out and Mr Swadling will be officially sworn in to council in the coming days.
“I’ll just get my seat in the chair and feet on the ground and look at some of the priorities.”
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