Gold Coast Council election 2016: Exclusive ReachTEL poll tips Gary Baildon for Surfers

FORMER mayor Gary Baildon is in the box seat to return to the Gold Coast City Council as the new Surfers Paradise councillor, an exclusive Bulletin poll has found.

Brook Patterson took aim at Mr Baildon’s historic links to developer Sunland. Picture by Scott Fletcher

FORMER mayor Gary Baildon is in the box seat to return to the Gold Coast City Council as the new Surfers Paradise councillor, an exclusive Bulletin poll has found.

But more than one quarter of Division 7’s residents are yet to decide who they will support as their divisional councillor at today’s elections.

An exclusive ReachTEL poll conducted for the Bulletin this week puts Mr Baildon as the frontrunner for the blue-ribbon council division, based on a survey of 602 residents across the division on Wednesday night.

Of the six high-profile candidates, the incumbent Gold Coast Citizen of the Year appears most likely to claim the Glitter Strip, according to the poll, getting 21.7 per cent from those surveyed.

He was followed by real estate agent Lucy Cole on 16.2 per cent, former councillor Susie Douglas on 12.6 per cent and finance expert Brooke Patterson close behind on 12.1 per cent.

Other candidates, businessmen Billy James and George Friend, polled at just 6.9 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively.

Division 7 candidate and former councillor Susie Douglas. got 12.6 per cent support from the Bulletin’s poll. Picture: Regi Varghese

Mr James in particular did poorly with women, scoring just 3.3 per cent support.

Division 7 is considered one of the most important seats on the council, taking in the environmentally sensitive Spit area, the city’s major development sites and the tourist strip.

The person who will represent that area will control more than $700,000 of discretionary funding and will have a say in spending initiatives on the tourist strip.

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Depending on the final numbers of the council, the area’s councillor could either help or hinder Mayor Tom Tate‘s agenda as well as be a leading voice on whether any development will take place on The Spit.

Public attacks by opponents on Mr Baildon’s credibility and past donations from developers appear to have failed to dent his support, which was nearly equal among men and women, but was strongest among those over the age of 50.

His greatest supporters, according to the poll, were those over the age of 65, with 27.5 per cent giving support.

Brook Patterson took aim at Mr Baildon’s historic links to developer Sunland. Picture by Scott Fletcher

If the poll’s results play out on Saturday, it will mark Mr Baildon’s return to city hall 12 years after he was voted out of the mayoralty.

The 76-year-old, who has campaigned on fixing the Glitter Strip’s traffic woes while managing high-rise development, last night said he was feeling energetic and ready for the final electoral push.

“We are doing everything we can to get every vote today,” he said.

“I am not taking anything for granted right now and we will be on the booths all day and doing everything I can to get the message out.

“Hopefully the people will come out with the support.”

Mr Baildon previously held the division as area councillor from 1988 to 1994.

Ms Cole, a leading real estate agent, fared the best with younger votes, scoring 17.7 per cent of 18-34 year-olds, while both Mr Baildon and Ms Patterson scored a low 5.9 per cent.

Lucy Cole says she is “energised” ahead of the election. Pic by David Clark

The sexagenarian, who has campaigned on dumping new lockout laws, fixing traffic on Chevron Island and improving amenities on Surfers Paradise beach, said she would dig deep for a last-minute charm offensive to win over the undecided voters.

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Ms Cole welcomed the support but said she hoped to boost her way past Mr Baildon.

“I am doing everything in my power to be number one and the young people are the most important sector of the Gold Coast — the future entrepreneurs — and I want to be their voice,” she said.

“A lot of them are concerned about these lockout laws which I do not support.”

Of undecided voters, 28.7 per cent were women while 23.1 per cent were male, with nearly half (43.1 per cent) aged 18-34.

Billy James. Picture: Jerad Williams

Experts say the large number of undecided voters, plus preferences could tip the results in favour of one of the candidates.

Griffith University political expert Dr Paul Williams said the seat would come down to preferences.

He said Surfers Paradise was seen as a prized division because it was “pure and undiluted Gold Coast”.

“This Melbourne Cup field is wide open and no candidate enjoys overwhelming support,” he said.

“Of course this means preferences will be absolutely critical in this contest and the high undecided vote will worry all candidates, especially the frontrunners.

George Friend. Picture: Jerad Williams

“This situation can be explained by the retirement of the incumbent councillor and the number of high-profile candidates.”

The race for Division 7 has been among the most intense of this year’s campaign and came following the retirement of incumbent and respected former mayor, Lex Bell, who leaves public office this week after more than 30 years.