Gold Coast mayoral election: candidate Danielle Dunsmore asked rival Virginia Freebody to drop out of race

A mayoral candidate says another female rival asked her to pull out the election race, in a stunning twist in the fight to beat Tom Tate from securing a record fourth term in office.

A mayoral candidate says another female rival asked her to pull out the election race, in a stunning twist in the fight to beat Tom Tate from securing a record fourth term in office.

Businesswoman Virginia Freebody, who ran in the 2020 poll, said she was shocked after a phone call from Danielle Dunsmore, who asked for an urgent meeting.

“Danielle Dunsmore wanted me to meet in-person at the Coffee Club, so I accepted her invitation,” Ms Freebody said.

“I was shocked to see her ask me face-to-face if I could please withdraw my candidacy, so she can become the next mayor instead. It seems Tom Tate is not the only one who runs away from me at events.

“Now another political challenger is afraid of me too.”

Mayoral candidate Virginia Freebody. Picture: Paul Weston

Ms Dunsmore confirmed she had suggested Ms Freebody exit the race, saying it would have been a solid strategic move.

“I did approach her about a month ago and said if she wanted to be strategic, she could back me instead of running herself,” Ms Dunsmore said.

“She said no and I kept the conversation confidential but she has now decided to make it public for whatever reason.

“I was being strategic and she is amazing and to have her backing could have unseated (Mayor Tate) instead of splitting the vote.”

Ms Freebody when announcing she was standing in December told the Bulletin the Mayor seemed to appear “quite frightened when out in public”.

“A friend and I recently attended an event and tried to ask a simple question about local government from Tom Tate, but were surprised to see the incumbent run away from us,” she said.

Danielle Dunsmore.

Mr Tate later watched a video where she made the claim and totally rejected the claim. Ms Freebody has also accused Ms Dunsmore, a marketing strategist, of not being original with her own political messaging.

She said Ms Dunsmore had “openly copied” her original slogan to “get back to basics” during an interview about the campaign for the March 16 poll.

Ms Dunsmore hit back and said she had not seen any of Ms Freebody’s campaign material.

Ms Freebody said her vision to get back to basics had little to do with so-called sewerage spills or land rehabilitation but was focused on returning to low rates, drinkable water, better footpaths, well-lit public spaces, removing rubbish and upgrading parks.

Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ms Freebody has taken another political swipe at Mr Tate about the City’s budget spend.

“Tate is costing us money every day he is mayor. His supporters probably do not have to worry about debt as much as real, ordinary working people who struggle with the cost of living each day,” she said.

“If I become mayor I will call for a review into budget expenditure and scrutinise wasteful spending. For example, one southern Gold Coast facility has received another $15 million of funding for upgrades even though the complex was already upgraded in 2010.”

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