Suspended councillor Adrian Raedel is expected to appear in court next Monday facing a corruption charge

The Department of Local Government sheds some light on the process of allowing a southeast Queensland councillor suspended pending a corruption charge, to run for re-election.

A MAYORAL candidate in this month’s council election is expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates’ Court on March 16 on a corruption charge.

Suspended councillor Adrian Raedel has nominated for the position of mayor of Moreton Bay Regional Council.

He is facing one count of official corruption brought by the Crime and Corruption Commission last June, and has said he will fight the charge.

The matter was initially scheduled for March 11, but was pushed back to next Monday.

“For the time being, defending myself is going to take everything,” Cr Raedel said at the time.

Cr Raedel was contacted for comment.

He planned to run for mayor before he was charged by the CCC and automatically suspended from the council.

“A councillor who is suspended as a result of being charged with a serious integrity offence, is still qualified to be a candidate, providing they meet all other qualification criteria,”

a spokesman from the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs said.

“However, if that person is elected, they would be automatically suspended until the matter is finalised.”

Cr Adrian Raedel is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

In a video posted on Facebook, Cr Raedel spoke of his reasons for running as mayor, but did not mention the ongoing court case.

“I’m running in this election because I feel that we need a better lifestyle here in the Moreton Bay Region,” he said.

“I’ve got experience and the capability of leading the Moreton Bay region to make sure that future families, and our family, are in a place that is vibrant and there’s employment and it’s a great place to come and live and create your own lifestyle.”

He is one of five confirmed nominees for the position, the others being Peter Flannery, Eric Shields, Dean Teasdale and Chris Thompson.

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A spokesman from the ECQ said that under Section 26 of the Local Government Act 2011, if a person meets the requirements, they are eligible to run for office.

“Being under investigation by the CCC does not affect a person’s eligibility,” he said.

“However, should they be convicted of a disqualifying offence under the Local Government Act 2009, they would no longer meet the requirements to be a councillor.”

In March last year, Cr Raedel was reported to the Crime and Corruption Commission over allegations involving a long-time donor Tosh Murphy.

A statement from the CCC on June 27, 2019 said it would be alleged that Cr Raedel corruptly received benefits including a sum of money, prepaid travel, accommodation and advertising. Cr Raedel has denied wrongdoing.