Marika Taylor to run for Division 7 on Rockhampton council

With council now in caretaker mode and the local government elections nearing, a Kawana mother has thrown her hat in the ring to run for Division 7.

Candidate for Division 7 for Rockhampton Regional Council Marika Taylor.

With local government elections just around the corner, one of the first candidates vying for a spot in Rockhampton Regional Council has put up their hand.

Kawana mum-of-two Marika Taylor will run as a candidate for Division 7, a seat at the council table which will be left vacant at the end of the current council term.

Division 7 is currently held by Donna Kirkland who is stepping down from her role at council to run as the LNP candidate for Rockhampton in October’s state election.

The seat encompasses the suburbs of Park Avenue, Kawana and Parkhurst.

Councillor Donna Kirkland will stand down from her role on council to focus on being the LNP candidate for Rockhampton in the October state election.

Ms Taylor has lived and worked in Rockhampton for more than 25 years and for the last four years has been president of the P and C at Parkhurst State School.

She said she felt she could bring a voice to people in the community.

“I have a passion for the community, I love my neighbourhood, my area and my region,” she said.

“I just want to help facilitate progress for our region as a whole, but my passion is Division 7.

“It (Division 7) is my home, the people I would represent are my neighbours and my friends.”

Ms Taylor said she’s received a “fantastic” response from people after announcing she would be running for council.

“A lot of people have said they’re not surprised, it’s been a fantastic response,” she said.

“I’ll be giving it my everything, it will become my full-time job (if elected), I’ll be completely committed to the role.”

A map of Division 7 for Rockhampton, which includes Kawana, Parkhurst and Park Avenue.

Ms Taylor said her three key words were communities, family and progress.

“I know the challenges that are out there for parents, working on the P and C I’ve seen a lot of the issues that are out there at the moment,” she said.

“People do ask what my policies are, but I want to be that person people can come to and say ‘our neighbourhood needs this’ and help them facilitate that or if people are trying different avenues for things and are having no luck they can come to me also and I can guide them where to go in council.

“I’m not going to do the normal political spiel, I’m here for the people.”

Ms Taylor said, if elected, she was looking forward to working with the mayor, councillors, the CEO, council officers and staff to achieve “positive and sustainable results” for the community.

Candidate nominations for the council elections close on Tuesday, February 13 at 12pm.

People eligible to vote will have until February 5 to enrol or update their details.

Early voting will begin on March 4, with local government election day on March 16.

For more information visit the Electoral Commission Queensland website.