Redland City Councillor Paul Gleeson takes leave to ‘focus on family’

An embattled councillor recently fined $2100 on misconduct charges will take leave from his role at Redland City Council to focus on his “ongoing personal matters” and mental health.

Councillor Paul Gleeson will take a leave of absence from Redland City Council.

AN EMBATTLED councillor recently fined $2100 on misconduct charges will take leave from his role at Redland City Council to focus on his family and mental health.

Cr Paul Gleeson (Division 9) released a statement today that he had written to the council’s chief executive office requesting a leave of absence until the new year.

Earlier this year he was fined on four misconduct charges for behaviour including verbally threatening another councillor and making intimidating social media posts.

“I have made the decision after Mayor Karen Williams wrote to me recently asking me to consider taking time away from Council to deal with my personal circumstances as well as a number of outstanding disciplinary matters,” he wrote.

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“I did not make this decision lightly, I love being a Councillor but I also love my family and so I need to take this time to look after their welfare and my own mental health.”

He said he also had “ongoing personal family matters”.

“There are also ongoing personal family matters that have impacted me and in light of all of this and the Mayor’s letter, I decided that I really need time to look after what’s important and that’s my health and my family.”

He also criticised the actions of State MP for Capalaba Don Brown.

Cr Gleeson said “the final straw” was a letter sent by State MP for Capalaba Don Brown sent to households in Capalaba. Picture: AAP/Tim Marsden

“The final straw came this week when (the) State Member for Capalaba sent letters on parliamentary letterhead to every household in Capalaba making claims about my behaviour, including allegations that stem from complaints still before the State Government’s Office of the Independent Assessor,” he said.

“I’ll be the first to admit I’m no boyscout, but I was always taught to play the ball not the man and in politics that means debating policies and performance, not using parliamentary resources to pepper someone into submission.”

He said it was the second time these sort of letters had been sent to all households in Capalaba “making claims about me”.

“That’s my family and friends, the people I have served for the past seven years and they read it without my side of the story; it hurts and it has taken its toll,” he said.

“I will spend some time with family and consider what I do in the New Year.”

State MP for Capalaba Don Brown said “everything in that letter is on the public record” and that Cr Gleeson was clearly “trying to play the sympathy card”.

“He’s a man trying to hide from his own track record,” he said.

Redland City Council mayor Karen Williams said: “Cr Gleeson has a made a decision, in the best interest of the community, his health and his family and I support that decision and I hope everyone else will too”.

“As a Council we will make sure we support the people of Div 9 while Cr Gleeson takes the time he needs.”