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Who is running in Gympie council elections 2024

With nomination ballots closed and the voting order decided, meet the 26 candidates who want to form the Gympie council for the next four years. Read the full list of candidate profiles and vote on the major issues council needs to address.

Gympie local elections 2024

From businessmen and women, to football stars, tradies, farmers, office workers and retail managers, 26 people nominated to run in the Gympie council election.

For some it heralds a whole new adventure, for others it is about getting back onto the decision-making table and they will be around the community campaigning for the next few weeks to win your vote.

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Gympie Regional Council Divisions – Gympie Council Election 2024
Gympie Regional Council Divisions – Gympie Council Election 2024

On March 16, 2024, Gympie residents will head to the polls to choose eight councillors and one mayor who will steer the direction for the next four years of the more than 55,000 residents living within its boundaries, from Rainbow Beach to Goomeri, and Kybong to Woolooga.

In the white brick foyer of the Senior Citizens Club on Mellor St in Gympie, 26 envelopes with names were drawn to decide the order of names on the voting slip.

The procedure formally closes the nominations as full-campaign election mode begins.

Of the seven women and 19 men nominated, seven candidates are fighting to keep their place on the council table, four are wanting to make a comeback as councillors and twelve are running for the very first time.

Here are the candidates as they will appear on the ballot slip:

Mayoral Candidates

Naomi Wilson

Naomi Wilson is running for Gympie Mayor against Glen Hartwig. Picture: Christine Schindler
Naomi Wilson is running for Gympie Mayor against Glen Hartwig. Picture: Christine Schindler

Former paramedic, military transport driver, businesswoman and carpenter Naomi Wilson has announced her intention to run for Gympie region mayor at the March 16 election.

Taking on multiple roles, careers and jobs, Ms Wilson said she has experience from all walks of life and industries.

Glen Hartwig

Mayor Glen Hartwig has defended Gympie council’s decision to raise general rates by an average of 5.5 per cent amid promises to spend more than $100 million across the region.
Mayor Glen Hartwig has defended Gympie council’s decision to raise general rates by an average of 5.5 per cent amid promises to spend more than $100 million across the region.

Glen Hartwig became Gympie’s current mayor in 2020 after defeating Mick Curran.

Before he was the region’s mayor, Glen Hartwig served a term as a councillor, owned a sandblasting business and had a career with the Queensland Police.

Mark McDonald

Mark McDonald is running for mayor in the upcoming Gympie elections. Photo Patrick Woods / Gympie Times
Mark McDonald is running for mayor in the upcoming Gympie elections. Photo Patrick Woods / Gympie Times

Tin Can Bay businessman Mark McDonald is taking a second shot for council, but this time running for the top job as mayor. He served two terms as a councillor for Division 1.

Division 1

Jess Milne

Jessica Milne is running for her second term in council.
Jessica Milne is running for her second term in council.

Jess Milne was voted in as Division 1 councillor in 2020 and has held the portfolio of environment and waste, IT and finance.

Ms Milne has described herself as “an energetic and enthusiastic mother of two who has lived in and around the Gympie area almost my entire life”.

Hilary Smerdon

Council Meeting – Hilary Smerdon. Picture: Shane Zahner
Council Meeting – Hilary Smerdon. Picture: Shane Zahner

Serving two terms as Division 6 councillor, the incumbent Deputy Mayor Hilary Smerdon is challenging for the east of Gympie.

Mr Smerdon owns property at Tin Can Bay and has held the portfolio of water and wastewater, civil works and design, asset management, facilities, property and open space.

FULL STORY: DIVISION 1 CONTEST

Division 2

Dolly Jensen

Gympie councillor Dolly Jensen.
Gympie councillor Dolly Jensen.

Theebine resident, former bank employee and passionate Gympie advocate Dolly Jensen will contest her seat in Division 2 once again.

She won it in the 2020 election, which was currently held by Glen Hartwig.

Marcel Claassens

Marcel Claassens, Gympie council candidate for Division 2.
Marcel Claassens, Gympie council candidate for Division 2.

Victory Heights resident Marcel Claassens said he has lived for seven years in Gympie and is “a sole trader in disability”.

Mr Claassens said he “wants fluoride taken out of town water”, a “rate rise freeze subject to an independent audit” and a community garden competition.

Division 3

Shane Warnes

Long-time Gympie resident Shane Warnes is running for Division 3 in the Gympie council elections of 2024.
Long-time Gympie resident Shane Warnes is running for Division 3 in the Gympie council elections of 2024.

Born, raised and educated in Gympie, Shane Warnes is a self-funded retiree who worked in waste management at the Gympie Regional Council for much of his life. On his Facebook page, he said he wants to sees upgrades to Gympie’s water and sewerage system, roads widened and maintained, and more support for trades though Gympie TAFE.

Charlie Horne

Charlie Horne is running for Division 3 of Gympie Regional Council at the 2024 election.
Charlie Horne is running for Division 3 of Gympie Regional Council at the 2024 election.

As a lifelong resident of Gympie, Charlie Horne has had an influence on the region through his work as a businessman and curator.

The 72-year-old is throwing his hat into the ring and said his desire to step into local government was “to look after what we’ve got”.

Division 4

Rae Gate

Rae Gate is running for Gympie council Division 4. Picture: Christine Schindler
Rae Gate is running for Gympie council Division 4. Picture: Christine Schindler

Semi-retired former real estate agent Rae Gate served two terms as a councillor from 2008-16.

Semi-retired and having just finished off a work-from-home contract with the health industry, Ms Gate is an experienced election candidate who has also served two full terms as a Gympie councillor and was once acting mayor.

“I’m a member of this community, I’m a resident of Division 4, and I believe I have the enthusiasm, the energy, the skills and the experience to work on Gympie Regional Council,” she said.

With decades of experience in the events management, electricity industry, customer service management, and serving as the secretary of the Gympie District Show Society, Ms Gate said she has the “wide ranging skills and service” for the job.

Full interview and campaign platform of Ms Gate here:

Michael Torrens

Gympie and District Driving School owner Michael Torrens has put his hand up in the battle for Gympie's Division 4 councillor. Picture: Christine Schindler
Gympie and District Driving School owner Michael Torrens has put his hand up in the battle for Gympie's Division 4 councillor. Picture: Christine Schindler

Gympie District and Driving School owner Michael Torrens, a former council and mill worker, said he was passionate about roads, rates, rubbish and sports facilities. Read his profile here. 

Mick Curran

Gympie ex-mayor Mick Curran contests Division 4 in the March 16, 2024 Council elections. Picture: Christine Schindler
Gympie ex-mayor Mick Curran contests Division 4 in the March 16, 2024 Council elections. Picture: Christine Schindler

Town planning, sports grounds and keeping council staff are on the top of the list for councillor candidate and Gympie’s ex-mayor Mick Curran in his bid for the seat of Division 4 in the March 16 council elections. Read his profile here. 

Bruce Devereaux

Bruce Devereaux is running for his second term as Gympie councillor for Division 4 in 2024. Picture: Christine Schindler
Bruce Devereaux is running for his second term as Gympie councillor for Division 4 in 2024. Picture: Christine Schindler

Running to keep his place on the council, Bruce Devereaux is a self-described “blogger, keyboard warrior, mispronouncer of ‘memes’, father of seven, all-round self-titled nice guy, appreciator of fine hops and coffee snob”.

He said he was looking forward to getting the Civic Centre up and running, more communication around road maintenance including implementing a star rating system, town planning and more green spaces throughout the city.

Wayne Boyd

Wayne Boyd is running for his first time for the seat of Division 4 for Gympie Regional Council in the March 20204 elections. Picture: Supplied
Wayne Boyd is running for his first time for the seat of Division 4 for Gympie Regional Council in the March 20204 elections. Picture: Supplied

Wayne Boyd said he was running for councillor to investigate ways to set up safe homeless refuges, and wants to update the subdivision of town and upgrading water and sewerage pipes.

Division 5

Kris Kahler

Former Titans, Broncos and Raiders player Kris Kahler is running for Gympie Council Division 5. Picture: supplied
Former Titans, Broncos and Raiders player Kris Kahler is running for Gympie Council Division 5. Picture: supplied

Electrician by day and under 15s footy coach by evening, former NRL player Kris Kahler said he brought to Gympie first-hand knowledge of sports, but also experience as an electrician specialising in lights at road and traffic intersections. Read his profile here. 

Dan Stewart

Councillor Dan Stewart. Photo Renee Albrecht/Gympie Times
Councillor Dan Stewart. Photo Renee Albrecht/Gympie Times

Former public servant Dan Stewart is the current councillor and holds the portfolio for planning and regulatory compliance, arts, culture, libraries, community development and customer service. He is looking at being re-elected for a third term.

Allona Lahn

Allona Lahn is running for Division 5 in the Gympie council election 2024. Picture: Christine Schindler
Allona Lahn is running for Division 5 in the Gympie council election 2024. Picture: Christine Schindler

Allona Lahn moved to Mothar Mountain from the Sunshine Coast and said she loves the region.

A mother, a former business owner and manager she is active in the community and wants to bring fresh ideas a bit of sparkle to Gympie.

Ms Lahn moved from Mooloolaba to her 91 acre (37ha) farm three years ago and said she “absolutely loves it here”.

In her time tending to the farm and homeschooling her 10-year-old she said she has become part of the community, revitalising the Mother Mt community hall with fresh produce markets.

She said she wants to run for council because she “can see a lot of opportunities in Gympie that aren’t being utilised to their full potential”.

Ms Lahn’s full interview and profile here

Division 6

Warren McEwan

Warren McEwan is running for Division 6 at Gympie Regional Council in 2024.
Warren McEwan is running for Division 6 at Gympie Regional Council in 2024.

A “country boy at heart”, Warren McEwan has spent decades helping keep the country spirit alive through his work with the Gympie Show Society and Gympie and District Beef Liaison Group.

Brian Thomas

Brian Thomas, former Kilkivan councillor and Division 6 candidate for Gympie Regional Council in March 2024
Brian Thomas, former Kilkivan councillor and Division 6 candidate for Gympie Regional Council in March 2024

Kilkivan lucerne and beef producer Brian Thomas was once a councillor on the Kilkivan Shire Council before it was amalgamated with Cooloola. Mr Thomas believes a strong family is the backbone of any community.

Dave Golding

Dave Golding is running for Division 6 in Gympie council elections 2024. Picture: Christine Schindler
Dave Golding is running for Division 6 in Gympie council elections 2024. Picture: Christine Schindler

Living in Sexton, retired farmer Dave Golding is highly involved in the equestrian community. He said he wants to see better infrastructure in Goomeri and Kilkivan to better support the ageing population as well as bolster population growth.

Full interview and story on Mr Golding here

Division 7

Donna Reardon

Donna Reardon is running for Division 7.
Donna Reardon is running for Division 7.

Donna Reardon working career is diverse, ranging from hospitality, retail, vocational childcare and real estate. 

Sean Connelly

Sean Connelly – Gympie Australia Day 2024 Citizen of the Year award winner is running for Gympie council Division 7.
Sean Connelly – Gympie Australia Day 2024 Citizen of the Year award winner is running for Gympie council Division 7.

Volunteer and community advocate Sean Connelly was been named Gympie’s Citizen of the Year this year and is now throwing his hat into the ring for a seat on Gympie’s council.

Warren Polley

Warren Polley
Warren Polley

Owner of Polleys bus company, Warren Polley is going for his second term in council and held the portfolios of IT and finance, economic development, tourism, events and communication.

Tim Jerome

Tim Jerome is running for Division 7 in Gympie Regional Council 2024 elections.
Tim Jerome is running for Division 7 in Gympie Regional Council 2024 elections.

Southside resident and schoolteacher Tim Jerome has experience running for mayor, federal and state elections and is trying his hand at Division 7. He said he is passionate about maintaining the balance between “people and the environment”.

Division 8

Ruth Golden

Ruth Golden is running for Division 8 in Gympie Regional Council elections 2024
Ruth Golden is running for Division 8 in Gympie Regional Council elections 2024

An outback woman with a long experience for working as an engineer in Maranoa Council as well as serving time as Quilpie and Bungil councillor, Ruth Golden is making a vie for the Mary Valley seat.

Gordon Maudsley

Amamoor builder Gordon Maudsley is running for the division eight Gympie Regional Council seat, held by Bob Fredman, at the March 2024 elections.
Amamoor builder Gordon Maudsley is running for the division eight Gympie Regional Council seat, held by Bob Fredman, at the March 2024 elections.

Gordon Maudsley has been in the building industry for about 30 years, including working at Bundaberg, Gladstone and the Torres Strait. The Mary Valley builder is passionate about fixing the roads, and tackling weeds and waste management.

Originally published as Who is running in Gympie council elections 2024

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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/queensland/gympie/who-is-running-in-gympie-council-elections-2024/news-story/8c20c7799d5778399bbd4bae6662461d