Gold Coast Council Election day 2020: Mayoral candidates confident ahead of count

The Gold Coast’s leading mayoral candidates are feeling confident ahead of tonight’s close of poll, with one admitting today’s unusual election was “surreal”.

THE Gold Coast’s leading mayoral candidates are feeling confident ahead of tonight’s close of poll, with one admitting today’s unusual election was “surreal”.

Incumbent Mayor Tom Tate and his wife, Mayoress Ruth Tate, today toured the city and spoke with supporters.

Normally, candidates would be travelling rapidly between polling booths until the end of voting

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Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate with wife Ruth, who is recovering from a health scare when she had a fall at a polling booth. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

But thanks to new COVID-19 related social distancing measures introduced by the Electoral Commission of Queensland, candidates and their volunteers are barred from booths between 8am and 6pm.

Cr Tate described the situation as “surreal”.

“It’s surreal not being able to get involved, at the polling booths, revving up the volunteers,” he said.

“We can’t even have volunteers present.

Mayoral candidate Mona Hecke. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Today’s vote will shape the future leadership of our city so I urge everyone who hasn’t already voted, think carefully about your choice at a mayor, and divisional level.”

Mrs Tate was released from Pindara Hospital last night after a medical issue earlier this week left her with facial bruising.

Cr Tate is running for a third term in the city’s top job, having first been elected in 2012.

Challenger Mona Hecke spent much of the morning in the city’s north.

“I’m feeling really positive today,” she said.

“It’s been fantastic so far, I am getting good feedback wherever I have been this morning.”