Jason O’Pray breaks silence after falling short in Sunshine Coast Council Mayor race

Jason O’Pray has broken his silence after the councillor of 12 years lost his cashed-up tilt at the top job. He’s left a touching farewell message as he walks away from public life, for now.

Jason O'Pray.

Jason O’Pray has broken his silence after the councillor of 12 years lost his cashed-up tilt at the top job.

Mr O’Pray took to his private Facebook Wednesday evening to thank his nearest and dearest and reflect on his time in council.

“The last few days have been pretty tough going, I’ve spent time with those very close to me that I love. Lots of emotions, Needed some time,” Mr O’Pray wrote.

“12 years, 4 elections and one of the best roles on the Coast, Division 8 Councillor, with the Portfolio of Tourism, Sport and Major events, then Economic Development.

“I’ve been so very lucky to have been so heavily involved in the community and the direction of the Coast since 2012 when I first got elected.

Jason O'Pray in his early years on council. Photo Kristy Muir / Sunshine Coast Daily

“I drive around town and see thousands of my little thumb prints on projects, upgrades, maintenances, ideas, plus all the people I’ve got to know.

“Potholes, tree trims, line markings, bridges, drains, playgrounds, bbqs, fish and chip tables, the list is a mile long. But it’s the people, the Sunshine Coast people are why this place is so damn amazing.

“It’s been a wonderful ride, a bloody bumpy road though, it’s not all roses, but I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Mr O’Pray also paid tribute to staff from the council he had worked with over his tenure as Division 8 councillor, as well as wishing the team to be newly elected all the best.

“I’ve worked with the greatest staff you could ever imagine over the past 12 years,” he wrote.

“It’s been an honour to work with you Mayor Mark Jamieson, thank you for your service to the Sunshine Coast, I’ve learnt so much from you.

Jason O'Pray led Division 8 for 12 years. Photo: Cade Mooney / Sunshine Coast Daily

“To my deputy mayors Chris Thompson, Tim Dwyer, Rick Baberowski. Councillors Peter Cox, Christian Dickson, Ted Hungerford, Steve Robinson, John Connelly, Joe Natoli, Jenny McKay, Winston Johnston, Maria Suarez, Greg Rogerson, David Law, Tony Wellington, Russell Green. A special thank you to my dear mate Terry Landsberg who I have worked very closely with over the last 4 years, you are a great human being.

“I wish Taylor Bunnag, the Division 8 Councillor elect all the very very best mate. You’ve got the best years of your life about to begin.

“To our new mayor and 2024 council, I sincerely wish you all the best, it’s an enormous responsibility and I am absolutely certain you will do your very best for the wonderful people of the Sunshine Coast.

Jason O'Pray.

“Thankyou to the wonderful people of Div 8 and the community groups - Maroochydore, Sunshine Cove, Marcoola, Twin Waters, Mudjimba, Pacific Paradise and Town of Seaside Residents Associations. Sincerely, Thank you.

“How good is life on the Sunshine Coast… time for a surf, some laps and time with my girls. I’m signing off for now.”

Mr O’Pray is currently third in the mayoral race behind likely winner Rossana Natoli and Ashley Robinson.

O’Pray goes to ground after election wipe out - March 19

Jason O’Pray has gone to ground after a decisive election defeat on the Sunshine Coast, with the leading contender uncontactable.

Mr O’Pray was a longstanding councillor on the Coast before he set his sights on the top job.

He was one of the favourites for the role totalling more than $92,000 in expenditure and gifts-in kind during his campaign, which included funding a massive billboard on the Bruce Highway.

Since Saturday evening, Mr O’Pray has been contacted multiple times for comment in relation to election campaign material found in McDonald’s bags as well as the election count.

A campaign spokesman for Mr O’Pray advised that he would not be in a position to comment this week following the election.

Mr O’Pray’s avoidance came after a local man blasted receiving a side order of council election campaign material with their meal from a McDonald’s restaurant at Caloundra.

Caloundra resident Andrew Fraser said he was surprised to find a for Mr O’Pray inside his meal bag from McDonald’s Caloundra on Thursday, March 14.

“So the other day I went to Maccas as you do, went in the drive through, and I noticed that there was a bit of a brochure in the bag, I thought maybe it’s just to do with McDonald’s and their charity and then I realised it was that,” Mr Fraser said.

“They must have been putting them in bags as part of the order.

“I don’t remember ordering a McPolitics meal.”

Andrew Fraser said he didn’t expect to receive election campaign material with his order from McDonald’s.

Mr Fraser added that he feels it is an extreme example of election material being shoved in the faces of residents.

“I think we get bombarded enough when it comes up to the election, they’re all sort of vying for your attention,” he said.

“We’ve got billboards all over the roads, all over the streets, and there’s places where it shouldn’t be basically and I think if you are getting yourself a meal you’re not asking for it, it’s just been put in the bag.

“It’s pretty ridiculous in my opinion. It’s definitely not a happy meal, that’s for sure.”

Cr Jason O'Pray’s mayoral campaign strategy was largely about getting in front of as many eyeballs as possible. Picture: Iwan Jones

A McDonald’s spokeswoman said the alleged placement of election campaign material will be raised with the Caloundra restaurant.

“We will raise it with the restaurant directly,” the spokeswoman said.

In a statement, an Electoral Commission of Queensland spokeswoman said that the “display or placement of election material is a matter for the organisation concerned”.

“If the candidate has paid the organisation or any of its employees for distributing material, the payments will need to be disclosed as electoral expenditure,” the spokeswoman said.

McDonald’s Caloundra franchisee Tim Banks has also been contacted for comment.

Currently, Mr O’Pray is third in the race to become mayor with over 42,800 votes (21.65 per cent) with almost 80 per cent of votes counted, as he trails Ashley Robinson who has over 48,400 votes (24.51 per cent), and poll leader Rosanna Natoli, who has over 54,000 votes (27.31 per cent).