Mona Hecke: “My campaign is truly and proudly grassroots”

First reports on campaign spending have revealed one of the Coast’s fiercest mayoral candidates is running a “truly grassroots” campaign on less than $20,000.

MONA Hecke is running a “truly grassroots” campaign against millionaire Gold Coast rival Tom Tate, with first reports on campaign spending showing her backers are pledging $17,500.

That is 20 times less than the $340,000 Mayor Tate spent in winning the 2012 poll. His “discount” campaign in 2016, funded by himself and his wife Ruth, cost about $182,000.

Gold Coast mayoral candidate Mona Hecke at her media conference to announce she would be running in the 2020 campaign.

Ms Hecke’s supporters questioned on community Facebook pages whether she had “the financial resources to run a winning campaign”.

“I will be voting for her but her numbers of followers and those who even know about her are so low. And the fact that the vote may be split among so many competing candidates will mean (Mayor) Tate will have a fair shot of getting back in by just doing nothing,” a supporter wrote.

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A campaign member of the Hecke team wrote back: “Thank you … that’s true, and it’s a fear that many people hold. Do you care enough to donate $10 to Mona’s campaign to help make some of those things go away. If lots of people could do this, Mona could employ an experienced campaign manager to help her …”

Mayoral candidate Brett Lambert. Picture Mike Batterham.

When asked about her financial backers, Ms Hecke admitted “my campaign is truly and proudly grassroots”.

“We have lots of community support that money can’t buy,” she said. “However, if anyone wants positive change and would like to support me to be Mayor, I’d be delighted to accept some financial support to help us spread my campaign. There are people from all walks of life giving as little as $10 up to quite generous amounts, all of which will be publicly available.

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“Financial disclosures are still being uploaded and will continue to be uploaded as they are received. I absolutely believe that having a million bucks is not the only way to win a campaign.

“Social media is a powerful tool. Combining that with my ability to connect with the residents in their community should not be underestimated.”

Ms Hecke will face her first major test of public scrutiny on the campaign trail today when she debates with the Mayor at an Urban Institute of Australia luncheon at the Hilton Hotel in Surfers Paradise.

Health identity Mona Hecke is getting a headstart and will be announcing she is standing for Mayor of the Gold Coast. Picture Glenn Hampson.

The two other candidates in the mayoral race, businessman Brett Lambert and dry cleaner Virginia Freebody, are not speaking after failing to get an invite to the event.

Ms Hecke said the community was seeking someone who understood their issues.

“I have a small executive committee where we share the load of responsibilities. A campaign of this magnitude will never be won by one person alone, and hopefully on March 28 we will be celebrating as a team,” she said.