Revealed: Gold Coast Mayor in fourth term could face anti-Tate councillors

Mayor Tom Tate will begin to campaign this month. But if he wins on March 16 his dream poll run could turn into a nightmare fourth term. SEE WHY

Mayor Tom Tate will only begin to campaign this month. But his dream poll run, if he wins on March 16, could turn into a nightmare fourth term.

The reason is an anti-Tate tide could surface in the council divisions. Think the Deep South.

His mayoral opponents are Virginia Freebody, Danielle Dunsmore and Lavinia Rampino.

They are pleasant, not prone to moaning on Facebook. They offer fresh ideas and talk of “new leadership”. Not cashed up or big names but genuine grassroots candidates. That last credential should and does worry the Mayor’s campaign team.

Mayor Tom Tate as works starts for Light Rail Stage 3A, from Broadbeach South to Burleigh. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Mr Tate faced seven candidates in 2020. He won with more than 55 per cent of vote.

Mona Hecke who was the busiest, out in the community with listening posts, ran second with almost 25 per cent. Ms Freebody polled 5.6 per cent.

Mr Tate raised $340,445 in his first tilt in 2012, in donations from related businesses including $222,000 from Tate Family Holdings.

The cap for mayoral candidates is now $232,100. No-one will raise or spend anything like that. Mr Tate with his citywide profile is the favourite.

Predicting his councillors is harder.

We have 14 divisions in our city. Five councillors are currently unopposed. Mark Hammel, Donna Gates, Shelley Curtis, Darren Taylor and Bob La Castra are set to return.

Gone will be Daphne McDonald — a guaranteed “no” vote against trams and high-rise.

Mudgeeraba’s Glenn Tozer and Nerang-Pacific Pines Peter Young, if returned, until recent times, were also in the “naughty corner” of the chamber. As the Mayor opted less for a cruise ships and more buying up environmental land, they have voted with him.

Let’s consider some of the candidates. Nikki Archer in Palm Beach is the Mayor’s most vocal critic. Kath Down at Currumbin is anti-tram campaign with Save Our Southern Gold Coast.

These two don’t talk to each other (a story for another day) but they will vote against trams.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate meeting Nicolle Archer.

Cathy Osborne if she wins in Miami where Pauline Young has retired, similarly is entrenched in the South’s lifestyle’s fight against development.

Councillor Young was on board with trams, the City’s transport committee chair steering a policy which would see light rail Stage 4 to the border completed before the 2032 Olympics.

You can see where all this is heading, can’t you? The Mayor in a “legacy term” will want a boutique indoor stadium, HOTA upgraded, the Carrara Stadium with more seats and an “Olympic” roof on Southport Aquatic Centre.

He needs eight votes in the chamber. He got it, for the most part, in early terms.

All hand up — voting on budget day 2022. Picture Glenn Hampson.

A City Hall insider told your columnist: “It’s fair to say anyone suggesting Tom Tate had eight (votes) this term is kidding themselves. He definitely won’t have it in the next term. He will seriously have to do a lot of work to get some of the new councillors on board.”

So yes your vote, on March 16, will count for more than mayor. It will determine the important votes in the chamber in the months which follow.

Follow @PaulWestonGC