Mayor Rachel Chambers resigns: Electoral commission reveals when and how voters will replace mayor

With the shock announcement of her resignation on Wednesday, North Burnett voters will now have to head back to the polls to replace current Mayor Rachel Chambers. Here’s what will happen.

North Burnett voters will be heading back to the polls within months, with the Electoral Commision of Queensland confirming how the region will replace outgoing Mayor Rachel Chambers.

Cr Chambers made the shock resignation announcement in an emotional video posted to Facebook on Wednesday.

The Mayor, who has headed the region for nearly six years, said personal and “life-changing” events over the past few months have served as a “wake-up call as to how life needs to be lived” and forced her to rethink her priorities.

North Burnett Mayor Rachel Chambers make a teary resignation announcement, September 22, 2021.

The resignation will be effective December 11.

An ECQ spokeswoman confirmed Deputy Mayor Robbie Radel will become acting Mayor from December 11 until the vacancy is filled.

“The CEO of the North Burnett Regional Council will write to the ECQ requesting a by-election be conducted,” the spokeswoman said.

“The ECQ will issue a Notice of Election that will include the election timetable.”

It’s understood the formal request for a by-election is yet to be received by ECQ

The election will have to be conducted within two months of December 11, and will likely be a full postal ballot vote for about 7000 enrolled voters.

The ECQ also confirmed the council will bear the cost of the by-election, although it’s not clear yet how much the mayor election will cost, with the spokeswoman telling NewsCorp the costs “vary depending on the size of the local government area” and type of election.

“The ECQ works closely with council to deliver an election that meets their needs and is within the requirements of the Act,” she said.

Mayor Chambers said she had “loved” her role of advocating for her community and while her passion hadn’t wavered, her attention had shifted.

“The role of Mayor is a 24 hour/7 day a week gig. To do justice to the position you need to throw everything you’ve got at it, which of course leaves little for anything else,” she said.

Cr Chambers also addressed speculation she was leaving to run for the state seat of Callide, which she had previously considered.

“I’ve decided once and for all, that even though I believe I would have made a valuable member of parliament, I’m too much of a delinquent for party politics,” she said.

“As I’ve told both sides over the years, if I didn’t believe in something, I’d cross the floor more times than a vacuum cleaner.”

Originally published as Mayor Rachel Chambers resigns: Electoral commission reveals when and how voters will replace mayor