Political newcomer Brett Lambert joins race for Gold Coast mayoralty after years of saving

BRETT Lambert wants to be mayor of the Gold Coast and he’s putting everything, including the savings he’s put aside from working up to four jobs at a time, on the line.

mayoral candidate Brett Lambert considers himself a hard work and on occasion has held down four jobs at the same time and considers being the Mayor his dream job Pic by David Clark

BRETT Lambert has worked up to four jobs at once for the past three years to save enough money to fund a campaign to become Gold Coast mayor.

Now he is putting up his $30,000 in life savings to run against four other contenders for the top job, including against the incumbent, Tom Tate, who reportedly spent more than $500,000 in 2012 to win the position.

The 53-year-old Mr Lambert, a lifelong Southport resident, built up his war chest for the March 19 poll through working jobs such as shifts in the service station as well as in event logistics with the AFL and other major events.

Despite the financial imbalance, Mr Lambert said he wanted to prove the size of a candidate’s heart mattered more than the size of their wallet and was determined to push ahead despite being urged to pull out by veteran Southport councillor, Dawn Crichlow.

“I am a working-class man and I would be a working-class mayor because I want to be there for the people to give them a voice,” he said.

“Dawn told me that you can’t compete against people with so much money and that I shouldn’t spend my life savings but I think this job is not about the money, it is about the size of your heart.

“My friends and I have spoken a lot about how we are not happy with things that either happen or don’t get done and the reason this keeps happening is that we do not stand up, so I decided that is what I should do.

“I want to make changes for the community not for my own personal benefit but for everyone — there are no hidden agendas.”

Mr Lambert’s entry to the race comes less than two months from polling day and increases the mayoral field to five candidates.

He will go up against Cr Tate, Penny Toland, Gary Pead and Jim Wilson.

The field of candidates is smaller than the seven contenders who went to the polls in 2012.

Mr Lambert said that, if elected, he would focus on a Nerang to Broadbeach light rail link to improve connections to the city’s west and make it easier for football fans to watch games at Metricon Stadium.

He said better public transport was needed.

“We need to support the sporting facilities we have here and by connecting the rail to Nerang it means people can come straight from the Hinterland to the beach and that would boost business,” he said.

“It would also support our footy teams which have been hit by dramatically dropping crowd numbers and I do not think the Coast can afford to lose another team, so this would boost interest.”