Council election 2020: Councillors clash over corflutes on northern street

Councillors Kristyn Boulton and Cameron Caldwell have been involved in an embarrassing corflute clash with an elderly man on a northern Gold Coast suburban street.

COUNCILLORS Kristyn Boulton and Cameron Caldwell have been involved in an embarrassing corflute clash with an elderly man on a northern Gold Coast suburban street.

Councillor Boulton on her Division 4 candidate Facebook page had posted “I’m upset by an incident”, which attracted immediate support from about 40 residents.

Councillors Cameron Caldwell and Kristyn Boulton are running against each other in the new council Division 4.

The post was written about three hours after the confrontation in Bayview Street at Paradise Point on Monday when “another city councillor” approached her supporter.

“Now I’m a politician, so I don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for me. But it’s my personal view, when a resident is chastised for supporting another candidate — one’s democratic right — this simply crosses a line,” she wrote.

“I expected this, levelled at me but not at the member of the public for their alleged ‘picking a side’. It’s my belief this is unbecoming behaviour of any elected official.”

Councillor Kristyn Boulton is running in Division 4 on the Gold Coast.

The Bulletin understands the retiree was putting one of Cr Boulton’s corflutes up at the front of his property when Cr Caldwell, who knew him, drove past and asked if he was “choosing sides” and going to put up some of his election material.

Under the boundary changes, Cr Boulton has decided to contest Division 4 which includes Cr Caldwell’s Paradise Point base where he has his division office.

“It was inappropriate. I’m just sticking up for my residents. I’m just making the public aware of this. It needs to stop,” Cr Boulton said.

Cr Caldwell declined to comment.