Mayoral candidate Amy Eden loses team member and Division 7 council candidate Sam Byrd

Mayoral candidate Amy Eden has lost a key team member in a winnable Cairns division just as her campaign began to gain some momentum.

Team Eden has lost its Division 7 candidate, Sam Byrd, ahead of the 2024 Cairns Regional Council elections. Picture: File photos

Cairns mayoral candidate Amy Eden has lost a key team member ahead of the 2024 Cairns Regional Council elections, just as her campaign was gaining some momentum.

Restaurateur Sam Byrd, Ms Eden’s Division 7 candidate, has pulled out of the race, citing conflict with commitments in his private life as well as concerns about the professional environment at the council.

Division 7 – which includes the suburbs of Edge Hill and Whitfield, as well as parts of Manoora, Manunda and Brinsmead – will be a hot seat at the March election due to the retirement of incumbent Max O’Halloran – a popular, three-term councillor.

Restaurateur Sam Byrd has withdrawn from the council race, and Team Eden. Picture: Supplied

Ms Eden last week announced former Cairns woman of the year Kesa Strieby as Team Eden’s Division 2 candidate.

Mr Byrd, who owns and operates hospitality venues in Division 7, said Ms Eden was a “fantastic” candidate who had a strong chance of becoming mayor, but personal circumstances meant he did not have sufficient time to invest into his councillor campaign.

“At this point I have a lot going on … I just couldn’t give Amy what she needed,” Mr Byrd said.

“I have been in support of Amy running as mayor … she does genuinely have a commitment toward her community.

“I’ve got confidence in her taking office.”

The retirement of Division 7 councillor Max O'Halloran will promise a fierce fight over the seat he leaves behind. Picture: Isaac McCarthy

The tension between Ms Eden and the Unity Team, particularly mayor Bob Manning, has become palpably obvious over the past 12 months.

Charged arguments have flared in council meetings.

In January Ms Eden said the mayor had “stymied” a council project in her division; the mayor retaliated by calling Ms Eden’s statement “stupid”; and other councillors said a personality clash between the two had stood in the way of some council business.

Ms Eden’s professional relationship with councillors Rhonda Coghlan and Kristy Vallely has also disintegrated, according to several informed sources at Cairns Regional Council.

The broken professional relationship between Amy Eden and Bob Manning, as well as other Unity Team councillors, has become obvious in the past 12 months. Picture: Supplied

Recent friction between Ms Eden and Division 1 councillor Brett Moller over a proposed fishing ban at the Cairns Esplanade became public when the two exchanged heated words on Facebook last week.

“Residents will see through you cherry picking what decisions you consider popular or not,” Mr Moller said.

“Rather than attacking me personally, again, maybe you could do something productive,” Ms Eden replied.

Mr Byrd said the acrimony had, in part, dissuaded him from seeking office at council.

“Amy is very headstrong, which sometimes conflicts with team environments,” he said.

“There’s a lot of friction (at council).

“I stood back and thought ‘this isn’t really something I want to invite into my life’.”

Ms Eden wished Mr Byrd “all the very best” with his future endeavours.

She said further announcements regarding the constitution of her team would be forthcoming.

“The behaviour of other councillors is their business. Team Eden is focused on ethical leadership and delivering for Cairns because our community deserves better,” Ms Eden said.

“I totally respect Sam’s decision … (his) dedication and contributions have been greatly valued, and his decision reflects his commitment to his family, something which I fully understand.”

Originally published as Mayoral candidate Amy Eden loses team member and Division 7 council candidate Sam Byrd