Redland City Council elections – some Redlands2030 opinions

Early voting in the Redland City Council elections starts on Monday 4 March for two weeks. The final day of voting will be Election Day which is 16 March 2024.

Here’s some of our thoughts about the candidates.

Voting for a new Redlands mayor

After three terms of Karen Williams, Redlands voters now have the opportunity to pick a new mayor. Hopefully, the new mayor will lift the standard of politics in Redlands which has become something of a laughing stock nationally since Williams crashed her council car while three times over the limit.

Here are our thoughts as we run down the ballot paper for Mayor in the 2024 Redland City Council elections.

Jos Mitchell

• Has worked hard for over a year meeting with people in the community and listening to their concerns.
• Supports increased transparency and improved community engagement e.g. through electronic petitions.
• Clearly opposes ill-considered vanity projects such as the proposed Birkdale whitewater Olympic stadium.
• Not a supporter of the Toondah proposal but understands that its future will be resolved through a combination of an environmental decision by Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek and the secret Development Agreement which may include poison pill provisions.
• Work experience includes being a police officer and a Council manager.

Andrew Laming

• A long record of attention seeking behaviour
• Delivered very little for his electorate while an MP
• His campaign is largely about State Government issues, crime, hospitals
• Has been a long term supporter of the Toondah proposal
• Supports the proposed Birkdale whitewater stadium AND wants Olympic rowing on the Tingalpa reservoir.
• Appears to be happy with the Council’s current rates and charges
• Guilty of Federal electoral offences, misleading the community through fake Facebook pages

Cindy Corrie

• Strong supporter of the Toondah proposal
• Supports plans for the Birkdale whitewater Olympic stadium
• Also supports increased housing density
• Appears to be happy with the Council’s current rates and charges
• Obvious choice for people who want little change from Karen Williams

Division Councillors

While there may be some very local issues to consider, remember that all councillors vote on all issues.

Five of the incumbent councillors have been supporters of the current mayor Karen Williams on issues such as:

• Putting forward plans for the Birkdale whitewater Olympic stadium without a publicly available business case or genuine community consultation; and
• Approving a Council budget that imposes on Redlands homeowners the highest rates and charges in SEQ.

So consider carefully any alternatives to:

• Peter Mitchell – Division 2
• Paul Golle – Division 3
• Julie Talty – Division 6
• Rowanne McKenzie – Division 7
• Tracey Huges – Division 8

And note that four candidates have voted AGAINST the whitewater project and the current high rates and charges budget:

• Lance Hewlett – Division 4
• Adelia Berridge – Division 9
• Wendy Boglary – Divsion 1 (uncontested)
• Paul Bishop – Division 10 (uncontested)

Division 2

Brian McDonald the former owner of Cleveland Office Supplies is contesting Division 2 against Peter Mitchell who has been the incumbent since 2016.

Division 3

In Division 3, Trent Ford and Ludy Sigrist are campaigning against Paul Golle who has held this division since 2016. Golle won this seat with community support but has tended to side with the Karen Williams agenda much of the time on key issues. Ludy Sigrist has expressed some clear commitments to support environmental protection and oppose the Toondah project.

Division 4

Angel Crowden is challenging Lance Hewlett in Division 4. Lance is supporting Jos Mitchell for Mayor.

Division 5

Division 5 will elect a new councillor following the retirement of Mark Edwards who has been a Karen Williams supporter. The two candidates are Shane Rendalls and Hilton Travis who is supporting Jos Mitchell.

Division 6

In Division 6 Julie Talty is being challenged by Jasper Every who is supporting Jos Mitchell. Talty unsuccessfully contested a state seat for the LNP a few years ago. Every was until recently working as a staffer for State Labor MP Kim Richards.

Division 7

Incumbent Rowanne McKenzie has been a supporter of Karen Williams. She has two opponents in Division 7. Former Division 7 councillor Murray Elliott spent some time working in the office of State Labor MP Don Borwn but is now trying to re-enter local government. There’s a new kid on the block, Meisha Read, who is running a very low frills campaign.

Division 8

Tracey Huges was elected to this division in 2016 with support from community groups. But she has tended to side with the Karen Williams agenda on key matters including the Birkdale whitewater Olympic Stadium and the budget. Huges is a member of the Labor Party. Her opponent is Jack Barton a youngish (25 years old) local who says he is motivated by concerns over the lack of Council’s transparency to ratepayers.

Division 9

Adelia Berridge won this division in 2020. She was at the forefront of calls for Karen Williams to resign after her drunk driving car crash. Her outspokenness provoked reactions from other players in the murky cesspit of Redlands politics.

Running against Adelia Berridge is Jason Colley who appears to enjoy the support of those who want to keep Redland City Council on its current track. His announcement that he would run for Council was ‘liked’ by Cindy Corrie, and Rowanne McKenzie.

For more information about the candidates in the Redland City Council elections and the election process check out our guide to all the candidates.

Redlands2030 – 3 March 2024

Authorised by Steve MacDonald, 104 Channel Street, Cleveland, QLD 4163