Gold Coast City Council election 2024: Shock blow to suspended incumbent councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden’s re-election bid
Suspended councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden’s bid for re-election has been dealt a significant blow by his rivals who have united to try and deny him a second term. FIND OUT HOW
Council Election
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Suspended councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has been put last on how-to-vote cards by all his rivals but still remains favourite to win back his division.
All candidates in Division 7, which covers Arundel, Parkwood and Labrador, on their how-to-vote cards made available at pre-poll had Cr Bayldon-Lumsden in last place.
Mr Bayldon-Lumsden was upbeat, handing out how-to-vote cards at the Runaway Bay Community Centre.
His mother Katrina and sister Ruth were at the Southport pre-poll.
“It has been a very positive day. It’s been nice getting out to chat with people I’ve got to meet with during the last few months and going through the vision I have for the next term of council,” he said.
“It was an honour getting elected in 2020. And I really look forward to serving the residents in Division 7.”
Mr Bayldon-Lumsden has been charged with the murder of his stepfather Robert Lumsden, 58, at their Arundel home on August 23 last year, after an alleged altercation with his mother’s long-term partner.
His lawyer Jason Murakami, of Behlau Murakami Grant, has lodged a plea of not guilty to the murder charge.
The councillor is suspended on full pay.
Other candidates have marked Cr Bayldon-Lumsden at the bottom of their how-to-vote cards maintaining the Division has lacked representation and needs it after the poll.
Division 7 candidate Joe Wilkinson said if voters marked every box, then their preferences would flow to the final top two candidates after the primary vote was counted.
He said Mr Bayldon-Lumsden was last on each of the candidates’ how to vote cards.
“If it got down to Ryan and another candidate in the top two positions, the preferences would support the other candidate opposing Ryan,” he said.
Mr Wilkinson commenting on Facebook said there was a real risk Cr Bayldon-Lumsden would be suspended again by the state government if re-elected.
“Our community deserves to have a voice in the council chamber and I’m doing all I can to connect with people to earn their trust and support and showcase why I’m best suited for the role,” he wrote.
Several political insiders tip Mr Bayldon-Lumsden could top the primary vote – he is the most high profile candidate – with as little as 25 per cent of the primary vote but the outcome will be determined by the preference flow to the second most successful contestant.
Division 7 candidate Jenna Schroeder has also put him last on her card. The other candidates are Edward Sarroff, Joel McInnes and Bruce Byatt. All of them were either at signage or working at the pre-poll.
“It’s clear from the thousands of conversations I’ve had doorknocking and at pop-up events, that residents do not want to vote for a candidate who will likely be suspended and unable to represent them,” Ms Schroeder said.
“I decided to run for the role of councillor a few months after the last election, as it became very clear that the community were not feeling heard by council.
“The past six months we have not only not felt heard, but not had representation or a councillor advocating for us. We as a community deserve better.”
Ms Schroeder said she was encouraging residents of Division 7 to “vote 1” for herself and then number every box, putting Cr Bayldon-Lumsden last.
“With six candidates, preferences are likely to play a big part in who gets elected, so I strongly believe it’s important to number every box and put six next to Ryan’s name,” she said.
“My how-to-vote card will feature numbers for all candidates, but I encourage voters to vote 1 Jenna Schroeder, 6 Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden and then decide on their own 2-5 preferences.
“As both a candidate and resident of Division 7, what’s best for the community is having a councillor who can fully take on all the responsibilities of the role.”
A government spokesman earlier this month confirmed Mr Bayldon-Lumsden was suspended from his Division role until April 30 – or when the poll could be called.
If he is elected, Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon will need to “consider the public interest factors involved in this matter” and decide whether to exercise intervention powers.
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