Tony Williams and Brett Williams running for Rockhampton mayor

You won’t see his corflute signs cluttering streets or brochures, but Brett Williams says he’s prepared to work 10 to 12 hour days for Rockhampton ratepayers if elected as mayor in the two-horse race. Who do you want to win? VOTE IN OUR POLL

Incumbent mayor Tony Williams and Mayoral candidate Brett Williams.

Rockhampton Regional Council’s mayoral election is a two-man race, with incumbent Tony Williams running for the position and candidate from the 2021 by-election Brett Williams also running again.

TONY WILLIAMS

Mayor Tony Williams.

Incumbent mayor Tony Williams is a familiar face to Rockhampton locals, having been in council for more than 16 years before being elected mayor.

Mr Williams has helmed Rockhampton Regional Council following 2021 mayoral by-election brought on by the resignation of long-serving mayor Margaret Strelow.

A dad, husband and grandfather, Mr Williams was previously the councillor for Division 3 and deputy mayor.

At the mayoral by-election, Mr Williams received about one-quarter of first preference votes and 58 per cent of votes after the distribution of preferences.

In his role as mayor, Mr Williams is also chair of the Rockhampton Region Local Disaster Management Group.

When he was first elected as mayor, Mr Williams said one of his main priorities was getting the council’s budget into surplus.

“I am truly humbled to become the Mayor of the Rockhampton Region. It is a privilege to take on this role and I would like to thank the community for putting their faith in me,” Mayor Williams said when he was elected.

“On a personal note, I would like to pay special thanks to my family, friends and supporters for their unwavering efforts over the past weeks during a long and arduous campaign.”

It’s been a busy tenure in Mr Williams’ first term, with the Rockhampton Museum of Art officially opening, funding secured for the Mount Morgan Pipeline and the start of construction and opening of the Alliance Airlines Maintenance Hangar.

But the term hasn’t come without its struggles.

In 2022 Rockhampton Regional Council’s financial assistance grants were drastically slashed by the Local Government Grants Commission, prompting condemnation from council.

BRETT WILLIAMS

Brett Williams, mayoral candidate for Rockhampton Regional Council.

Brett Williams is having a second go of the mayoral race after previously running for the position in the 2021 by-election.

Born in Mount Morgan, Mr Williams has more than 25 years’ experience in local government and has previously worked as a labourer, army medic and council adviser.

He also has a degree in accounting.

Mr Williams has said he believed his previous experience would help in supporting residents in the Rockhampton region.

When running in the 2021 Mr Williams said he was willing to be the region’s “full-time” mayor and recently made a similar commitment talking to residents on his Facebook page.

“Been working 10 to 12 hours a day. That’s the commitment I’ll bring to the region,” the post said.

Mr Williams has said he wasn’t going to “annoy” people with corflute signs or handing out brochures, encouraging everyone with questions to contact him.

“You may have noticed that I don’t have any signs up or handing out paper. I’m not going to annoy you with them and I know this may hurt my chances, however I won’t increase the waste or the visual eyesore around the region,” he said.

“I hope you all understand. Please keep the questions coming.

“Remember I really do care about the region that’s why I running, not for any political parties for the people.”