The race so far: 17 candidates now in 2020 council election
WITH just over two months until voting starts, the 2020 Toowoomba Regional Council election race is already heating up.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
WITH just over two months until voting starts, the 2020 Toowoomba Regional Council election race is already heating up.
There are already 17 candidates who have launched their campaigns or announced their intention to run, including a few incumbents and several newcomers.
The list of current councillors running again is headlined by Mayor Paul Antonio, who will seek a third consecutive term in the role.
Unconfirmed current councillors include Deputy Mayor Carol Taylor and Crs James O'Shea, Joe Ramia, Chris Tait and Bill Cahill.
Cr Anne Glasheen revealed late last year she would retire from local government at the end of the term.
Here is a snapshot of the race so far, featuring the candidates, who they are and what they're standing for.
Are you running for council? Let us know at news@thechronicle.com.au.
MAYORAL RACE
Paul Antonio
THE Millmerran farmer and long-term public servant will hope to be elected for the third term as mayor of the Toowoomba region after March 28.
Having served on the Millmerran Shire Council prior to amalgamation, Cr Antonio has been a fixture of all three terms since 2008 and suggested 2020-2024 would likely be his last.
At his campaign launch in November, Cr Antonio said water security would be high on his agenda.
Lindy Eising
CURRENTLY the only other mayoral candidate, Lindy Eising is an aged person carer with a pro-environment stance.
Ms Eising also ran for mayor in 2016, arguing the council needed fresh faces.
She has prioritised fairer animal management, better water management and lower utilities costs for ratepayers.
INCUMBENT CANDIDATES
Cr Geoff McDonald
CONTRARY to his notably public persona, Cr Geoff McDonald quietly revealed his candidacy last month, noting that it was always his intention to run again.
The fifth-generation businessman and former Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce president is the chair of the environment and community group at the council.
Cr McDonald has a passion for small business, tourism investment and growing community infrastructure.
Cr Nancy Sommerfield
A PRODUCT of a western Queensland grazing family, Nancy Sommerfield moved to Toowoomba in 1994 and worked in marketing for the health and education sectors before being elected to the council in 2012.
She has held the water and waste portfolio as chair for both terms, pushing heavily for more investment on the issue.
Cr Sommerfield was a vocal supporter and advocate for the council's new regional waste management strategy, and has urged the TRC to invest more in renewing its ageing water infrastructure.
Cr Megan O'Hara Sullivan
ONE of the first incumbent councillors to announce their 2020 campaign, Cr O'Hara Sullivan said she enjoyed her first term on the Toowoomba Regional Council.
Originally from Tara, the former teacher moved to the Darling Downs in 2004 with her family and has worked as an optometrist.
After serving on the Clifton Shire Council from 2005 until its amalgamation in 2008, Cr O'Hara Sullivan re-entered local government again in 2016.
She is the portfolio leader for finance and business strategy, with a focus on organisational development and customer service.
Cr Mike Williams
THE son of legendary shoe maker RM Williams, Cr Mike Williams is seeking a fourth term on the council, having served for eight years at the Cambooya Shire Council prior to amalgamation.
He and his wife Jo-Anne have run the Mike Williams Country Clothing business in Russell St for nearly three decades, and has a Master of Business in Applied Finance at the University of Southern Queensland.
Known as the council's finance expert, Cr Williams will push to implement the TRC's upcoming review of its service delivery programs if elected.
He announced his candidacy in September during an emotion-filled speech.
NEW CANDIDATES
Lizzie Adams
A LEADING advocate for indigenous health in Toowoomba, Lizzie Adams is the CEO of Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement.
Ms Adams has been a successful lobbyist on first nation issues in the region, including urging the council to establish an indigenous advisory committee.
She said her campaign would push for better investment in services in housing, domestic violence and youth crime, and has argued for a detox centre to be built in Toowoomba.
Joy Mingay
A LONG-time fixture of the Toowoomba business community, Joy Mingay has worked with small enterprises for more than a decade.
She was president of the Toowoomba Chamber and currently works in helping people attain employment across the region.
Mrs Mingay has pushed for greater accountability and transparency from councillors and TRC officers if elected.
Warren Midgley
THE former University of Southern Queensland academic announced his campaign in November, vowing to shift the council's priorities back to "serving people".
Dr Midgley, who has extensive experience in the education sector, said his campaign would focus on expanding investment into education initiatives and providing incentives for young people to remain in the region.
He also said the council needed to rethink planning and development, based on complaints from the community.
Tim McMahon
A FORMER schoolteacher and business owner, Tim McMahon was an educator at Highlands Christian College.
Ms McMahon said he wanted to encourage and foster small businesses to establish in the region.
He also said tourism and community infrastructure needed to be a priority of the council heading into the future.
Rebecca Vonhoff
THE former journalist is one of the latest to announce her candidacy for the 2020 election, with her message based on developing sophisticated strategies to solve the region's problems.
Dr Vonhoff, who is a former editor of The Chronicle and foreign editor of Canada's national newspaper, has prioritised better bushfire management and water security strategies.
She has argued the council needed to be bold in its decision-making, saying the region was at a "juncture".
Kerry Shine
EASILY one of the highest-profile new candidates for the 2020 election, former Toowoomba North MP Kerry Shine said he will leverage his experience in politics and law to benefit the region.
Costs of water access are one of his main policy platforms, along with further developing the Quarry Gardens project.
A long-time Labor politician, Mr Shine said he would run as an independent and was opposed to party politics in local government.
Melissa Taylor
RESPECTED businesswoman Melissa Taylor announced her candidacy in August 2019, saying she would fight for a prosperous council.
The managing director of Taylor's Removals and Storage said she would push for major projects and be an avid supporter of small businesses in the council.
Ms Taylor also wanted to encourage strong employment numbers across the region.
Tim Entwistle
FASHIONING himself as the youngest candidate in the race, 22-year-old retail worker Tim Entwistle also launched his campaign in August, bringing Tim Tams to his press conference in the Bell St Mall.
Mr Entwistle said he would push for CBD parking solutions and better support for regional towns.
He said his youth would be an asset, arguing he had the energy to work for the region's ratepayers.
Daryl Nicholson
THE man behind popular local Facebook page Toowoomba - 4350TV announced his candidacy for the 2020 election way back in September 2018.
Mr Nicholson told The Chronicle at the time he would support small businesses to thrive in the city, and address the CBD's parking problems.
He would also push for solutions to growing water security issues across the region.
Mike Flanigan
FORMER Toowoomba Regional Council employee Mike Flanigan has described himself as an expert in disaster management, based on his prior experience in the field.
Mr Flanigan is a major proponent of decentralising council services across the region, and wants to cut white collar council jobs to cover for a freeze of general rates.
He was previously the council's disaster management co-ordinator.
Eakraj Adhikari
A LEADING member of Toowoomba's Nepalese community, Eakraj Adhikari will campaign on a platform of improving access to services for social issues like homelessness and domestic violence, as well as promoting the Garden City as a national model for multi-faith diversity.
Mr Adhikari said he has lived in Toowoomba longer than any other place in his life.
He arrived in the Garden City on a student visa many years ago before falling in love with it and settling.
MUST WATCH: Chairs fly in Gold Coast Australia Day bust-up
Video footage has shown the moment a fight broke out in a major Gold Coast shopping centre on Australia Day, with a man smashing chairs in the food court. SEE THE VIDEO
’Make a difference’: Dream chance to complete iconic trek for free
A generous donor will pay for one brave soul to join a group of Toowoomba locals as they embark on a gruelling and iconic international trek. Here’s how you can apply.
Explosive new doco: Failing Elizabeth – her heartbreaking last days
A new documentary featuring never before seen police interviews reveals the tragic last days of Elizabeth Struhs’ life, who died when she was denied insulin.
ADF men brutalised, left with amnesia in mob attack
Two ADF men were left cradling a broken jaw and suffering short-term memory loss after a surprise attack in a kebab shop.
Wellcamp stars in iconic homegrown crime comedy sequel
A controversial $230m accommodation centre built during the pandemic has been cast as the perfect location for an immigration detention centre in David Wenham’s latest film. Here’s where you can see it on the big screen:
Gallery: Fun for all as Australia Day is celebrated in Oakey’s unique way
See how this country Queensland town community come together to celebrate Australia Day in our gallery and video here.