Former tourism leader Josh Martin is the only candidate standing as Daphne McDonald resigns
A respected former Coast tourism leader is considered the “front runner” to win the southern coastal division held by retiring councillor Daphne McDonald.
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A respected former Coast tourism leader is considered the “front runner” to win the southern coastal division held by retiring councillor Daphne McDonald.
Josh Martin, who was CEO of Connecting Southern Gold Coast and revamped Cooly Rocks On, has been campaigning since late November with no other candidate out in the field.
A council political insider, aware other candidates will almost certainly put their hand up after Cr McDonald announced her retirement, said Mr Martin had a huge political advantage.
“Josh is working his guts out. He’s a front runner. He’s a very likeable guy,” the source said.
Cr McDonald’s lengthy statement on her Facebook page on Sunday announcing her retirement shocked some colleagues because she gave no clues in the lead-up.
The timing of the announcement suggests she has not groomed a replacement.
The City’s other retiring councillors William Owen-Jones and Pauline Young, deliberately announced earlier, giving candidates time to build a profile in the community.
As nominations for the March 16 poll opened on Monday, Mr Martin was the only candidate out campaigning in Division 13.
“I’ve been out doorknocking and meeting the community since November,” he said.
Nominations close on February 13, and voting begins on March 4.
“It’s a very short run. I think it would be opportunistic of other candidates at this point (to start running),” Mr Martin said.
“The work into not only having a plan, the back end of building websites and establishing priorities at printing — even getting into the community.
“If you are starting now, you are not going to be able to get out to the community. It would be difficult. That’s why I’m positive about my campaign, I’ve been able to put in the groundwork.
“I’m getting really great feedback about my priorities. If I could leave a legacy as much as Daphne McDonald was able to do, I would love to do that for the Division.”
Councillors not facing an opponent include Mark Hammel, Donna Gates, Shelley Curtis, Darren Taylor and Bob La Castra.
Only Virginia Freebody and Danielle Dunsmore are actively campaigning in the mayoral race where Tom Tate is gearing up for a record fourth term.
Only Ms Dunsmore organised publicity on Monday, announcing she would be nominating.
“Nominations open today, and I plan to get in straight up. My campaign has been running extremely well, with significant positive response,” she said.
“The common response is, that it’s time for change, and people are not happy with the direction the Coast is going — and no-one is listening. My plan is to bring council back to basics.”
Ms Dunsmore wants the City to abandon any plans to invest in the Gold Coast Airport or a future cruise ship terminal.
“They are not council’s job. Council’s job is not sexy but it’s important — we need to bring the focus back to sewerage, traffic, parks and roads,” she said.
“We need to be creating communities not just houses or units, and we need to rethink how we want the Coast to grow. We also need council to be more transparent, and truly engage the community.”
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