Longtime Peninsula councillor announces he will not contest the 2020 Local Government Election
A longtime Moreton Bay Regional councillor, who came under scrutiny from the CCC, has announced he will not contest the 2020 Local Government Election.
Moreton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Moreton. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Politics is in the “Houghton genes” but longtime Redcliffe councillor James Houghton says he is ready to get out of the game.
Cr Houghton (Div 5) has announced he will not contest the upcoming local government election after representing the region for 16 years.
While he was first elected to Redcliffe City Council in 2004 – he actually put his hand up to represent the region in 1970.
$1 for 28 days: Full digital subscription
“My brother, John, and I stood at the same time for the same division. We were both listed on the ballot paper as J.Houghton – I lost by 80 votes,” Cr Houghton said.
He said it was his “old man’s” involvement in politics that led him to pursue it.
James Houghton Sen was the mayor of Redcliffe from 1955 to 1964. He was later the Member of Redcliffe (1960-1979) and the Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1974-1979.
Cr Houghton said he watched his dad fight for projects to benefit the community including the Scarborough Boat Harbour, Redcliffe Hospital and removing the tolls from the Hornibrook Highway and was inspired to do his bit.
CANDIDATES FOR THE 2020 MORETON BAY ELECTION
During his time on the Redcliffe City Council and Moreton Bay Regional Council he has seen many changes and helped many projects come to fruition.
“I didn’t like the idea of amalgamation, I marched to Parliament House with the Mayor and other councillors with a wheelbarrow full of petitions, with 20,000 signatures against it,” Cr Houghton said.
“But I have since changed my mind. If we had not amalgamated we wouldn’t have as many things as we do; like Dolphin Stadium, the rail line, university and magic sporting facilities.”
Cr Houghton had a long list of highlights including Bee Gees Way, having Newport recognised as its own suburb, the new Nathan Rd Sports Complex, jumping pillow at Scarborough and the establishment of Anzac Place.
“We have done a lot of things,” he said.
Cr Houghton said development, particularly around Redcliffe, had changed over the years.
“It used to be a tired holiday, fishing village, now it is thriving everyday of the week,” he said.
His time as a councillor has not been without controversy.
Cr Houghton has been investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission in relation to using money from the Moreton Futures Trust during his 2016 election campaign – some funds were donated by prominent developers.
Questions have been raised over the council’s appointment of MBRIT as its tourism body.
Cr Houghton’s last council meeting will be on February 25.
He said he plans to travel Australia and take up a new hobby, like gardening.
“I’m looking forward to doing something I’ve never done before and a break,” he said.
‘Holy s***’: Qld man gets life-changing $60m call
A South East Queensland man has told how he was drifting off to sleep, daydreaming about how life-changing winning the lotto could be, when he received the incredible call to tell him he’d done just that.
Ex-Redcliffe footy star facing theft, armed robbery, NDIS fraud charges
A former Redcliffe Dolphins player accused of robbing a vape store while threatening he was armed, robbing a pizza delivery driver and ripping off the NDIS, has been granted bail after spending nearly four months behind bars on remand.