Wildest political wannabes of the Gold Coast: Their life post election
The current crop of politicians are vanilla when compared to this lot. From Santa to topless dancers, surfing celebrities and even Elvis, the Gold Coast has had its fair share of unique candidates. SEE WHAT THEY’RE DOING NOW
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THE current crop of politicians are vanilla when compared to this lot. From Santa to topless dancers, surfing celebrities and even Elvis, the Gold Coast has had its fair share of interesting and unique candidates aspiring to be political leaders:
DEAN VEGAS
Elvis impersonator Dean Vegas had pollsters “all shook up” during his run for Gold Coast Mayor in 2012.
Despite his get up, Mr Vegas insisted he was serious about his plans to run the city.
He ran on a campaign to “bring pride” back to the Gold Coast and assured votes he would ditch his alter ego while on duty.
Suffering a defeat at the ballot box he went back to doing what he does best.
You can catch his latest show at Village Theatre Sanctuary Cove at the end of the month.
BRIAN SHEPHERD
Always the candidate, never the mayor, Brian “Shep” Shepherd was a Gold Coast icon for his colourful plans for the city across the ’80s and ’90s.
First contesting the mayoralty in 1984, he would run four times, dubbing himself the “mayor with flair who never got there”.
When in the role of Surfers Paradise Chamber of Commerce boss he famously described one messy bout of New Year’s Eve celebrations as “nothing more than a drunken orgy”.
“It’s a giant drunken bash for out-of-town yobbos.”
He was also nominated for Gold Coast Citizen of the Year in 2004 for his contributions to the city. A much-loved member of the Gold Coast community, Shep died in 2013.
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SHERYL RICHARDS
A 20-year-old stunner when she first ran for mayor in 2000, Sheryl Richards was thrown into the spotlight thanks to the semi-nude pictures on her campaign website, attracting more than 600,000 hits.
Campaigning on a platform of new-age policies she sparked controversy when her past as a topless dancer came to light.
She slammed the media following the election, claiming she had been branded a bimbo.
In 2004, she told the Bulletin she still had a passion for politics and was studying to earn a Diploma in Economics and an A-level maths Certificate from the City of London College.
She eventually hoped to undertake a Degree in Political Sciences at the University of London.
She has since travelled the world and today maintains a low profile.
It is understood Ms Richards is living on the Gold Coast and raising a family.
Her 2000 campaign saw her win 8 per cent of the vote on polling day.
WAYNE “RABBIT” BARTHOLOMEW
One of the most successful celebrity candidates on the Gold Coast to date, the former world surfing champion’s political attempt came down to the wire.
Running for the seat of Burleigh as part of the Labor team in the 2020 state election, Mr Bartholomew lost out against the incumbent by just 713 votes (with preferences).
The surfer is believed to be back on his board and working on surfing-related projects.
He hasn’t ruled out another punt at politics in the future.
SANTA CLAUS
Yes, your read that right — Santa Claus made a run for City Hall on the Gold Coast in 2016.
The man in red, Santa Strohfeldt, a Biggera Waters local, made it his mission to give incumbent councillors a “good kick up their asses”.
The retired actor and businessman said he wanted to stand up for the community.
Mr Strohfeldt’s mayoralty bid was unsuccessful.
He claims to be the longest-working Santa in Queensland, still dons his Christmas gear as a shopping centre regular and habitually attends Supernova Comic Con.
GARY PEAD
Gary Pead shot to prominence as a Labor candidate at the 2015 state election, losing to Ray Stevens in Mermaid Beach. He later fell out with the party over climate change.
Pead famously ran for Gold Coast mayor a year later but failed to nominate because he was too busy giving a television interview about his policies. Instead, he unsuccessfully ran for a senate seat that year dressed as the cartoon character Where’s Wally, because he was almost impossible to find on the long senate ticket.
Pead popped up again this year, contesting the mayoralty. He lost to Tom Tate and like Where’s Wally disappeared. He is now director of fundraising and communications at the Indonesian Rainforest Foundation.
CHRISTIAN JOCUMSEN
For a city that has had a stripper run for mayor, it is hard to imagine anything more unusual.
But Christian Jocumsen ran for mayor multiple times through the 1990s on a nudity platform, hoping to secure 100 metres of The Spit for nude bathing.
He first attempt to seek office was in 1992 but he was unable to stand because he wasn’t on the electoral roll. Mr Jocumsen made several further attempts but never won.
Mr Jocumsen has not made a media appearance since and does not have a social media presence.
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