Cr Mark Molachino spent $11,000 on a re-election campaign he won by default

Townsville City councillor Mark Molachino had poured $11,000 into his re-election campaign before finding out he had secured his spot by default.

The 2020 Townsville Council ballot draw was held to determine the ballot paper orders. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

TOWNSVILLE City councillor Mark Molachino had poured about $11,000 into his re-election campaign before finding out he had secured his spot by default.

It was confirmed at a ballot draw on Wednesday that Cr Molachino (Div 4) had become the first councillor since Townsville’s amalgamation to run unopposed at a local election, automatically securing a seat for Team Jenny Hill.

MORE: All the candidates for Townsville City Council in the 2020 Local Government Elections

Uncontested Councillor Mark Molachino. The 2020 Townsville Council ballot draw was held to determine the ballot paper orders. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

But his contribution to the team’s election war chest is a drop in the ocean compared to mayoral candidate Greg Dowling’s campaign purse, though the United Australia Party member confirmed most of the $505,000 had already been spent on advertising, particularly for spots in the final fortnight before polling day.

Mr Dowling said he did not expect his only donor, Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy Pty Ltd, to make any more contributions, though he was “quite open to it”.

Mayoral candidate Greg Dowling. The 2020 Townsville Council ballot draw was held to determine the ballot paper orders. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland-run ballot paper draw sorted how candidates would appear on voting sheets, with mayoral candidate Sam Cox placed at the top, followed by Mr Dowling, Chris Eastaughffe and Cr Jenny Hill at the bottom.

Deputy Mayor Les Walker said he expected the “tempo” of the campaign to ramp up from now, and flagged the release of policy in coming days.

Originally published as Cr Mark Molachino spent $11,000 on a re-election campaign he won by default