Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

MAYORAL RACE - DOWN TO THE LINE

A total of 3,500 people cast their vote at Whitsunday polling stations across the region on Saturday and when this figure was added to the 11,000 early-voters, more than 390 telephone voters and 1,200 postal votes the Queensland Electoral Commission (ECQ) deemed the result “too tight to call”.

This means that the results of the by-election will likely be left to preferences and despite Mike Brunker being currently (as of 2pm Wednesday, August 17) in the lead with 29.11 per cent of the votes, there is a high possibility that either Julie Hall or Al Grundy could be in with a chance.

In simple terms, preferential voting means that as the candidates with the fewest number of votes are eliminated from the race, their votes are then passed onto whoever the voter marked as ‘second’ on their voting card.

This process of preference distribution will begin when the ECQ are “certain of the order of the candidates based on their first preference votes and have all ballot papers in the count.”

Postal votes must be returned by 5pm on August 23 for them to be counted but as soon as the ECQ have a clear picture on who is eliminated, it is hoped that preferences will begin to be distributed.

In the meantime, there is an agonising wait for the candidates. Current poll leader Mike Brunker stated that he’s “just got to wait for the process to take its course”.

“Hopefully it will come my way,” he said.

“But I am not popping the champagne just yet!”

Mr Brunker received almost 50 per cent of the votes in his hometown of Bowen but with four out of the five remaining candidates residing further south, it is thought that preferences are more likely to sway towards them, potentially knocking him out of the race.

Al Grundy currently has 21.63 per cent of the votes, followed closely by Julie Hall who has 20.68 per cent.

Battling a severe sickness which saw him head to hospital for IV antibiotics, Mr Grundy’s election race was hampered by poor health which saw him miss the ballot draw and candidate networking night held by the Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce.

Despite this, he said that he “gave it my best shot”.

“The outcome doesn’t matter; I’ll still do my best as a Councillor and support the Mayor,” he said.

Choosing not to fill in a How-To-Vote card with preferences like other candidates, Mr Grundy believes that people should make an informed decision.

“I want people to make their own mind up, I don’t want to tell people how to vote. I hope voters read into it enough to make up their own minds, not listen to other candidates with vested interests,” he said.

Julie Hall said she was pleased with how she ran her campaign and feels that she could do very well on preferences stating that “it’s anyone’s game.”

“If people voted according to the rate cards that would make Al and Mike down the bottom,” she said.

Having never been a Councillor before, Ms Hall says she is thrilled by the trust the community have placed in her.

“The fact that I polled so high is an indication that people aren’t happy, it shows that not enough of Council are listening”

Jan Clifford is currently sitting on 13.87 per cent of the votes and said “it ain’t over yet!”

Phil Batty achieved 6.2 per cent of the votes and said it was a very eye opening, educational experience but that he is looking forward to getting on with life now it is over.

When asked who he thinks will win, he simply stated that Brunker is looking unlikely.

“It’s going to be a very close call,” he said.

“It’s down to preferences for candidates who are all from down here so it would be almost impossible for Brunker to win.”

Peter Hood received 8.1 per cent of the votes and although likely defeated this election, has already put his hat in the ring for 2024.

Al Grundy

“I am very keen to work with the planning department on short term housing. I’d like to get a better understanding of how developers, builders and real estate agents can help fast-track and fulfill the housing shortage.”

Julie Hall

“Getting feet under the desk, looking at how everything is sitting. Bringing the people together and looking at why the rates are so high. It’s the Mayors job to represent the people and that’s what I would do.”

Mike Brunker

“Our plans are in place and budget is on order, the first thing I would like to address is the roadworks in Bowen.”

Representatives of the candidates outside the polling booths on Saturday morning

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