By Lucy Waldron
The Southern Downs Regional Council will have a new look for 2024 as five new faces look likely to join three existing ones.
With most of the votes counted, Sheryl Windle was leading the pack on a mammoth 8.24 per cent with 13,305 votes. Newcomer to the scene Carla Pidgeon was in second place with 7.24 per cent (11,695 votes) while current councillor Cynthia McDonald was a close third at 7.22 per cent (11,665 votes).
Grouped in the six percenters were Sarah Deane 6.89 per cent, Russell Wantling 6.81 per cent, sitting councillor and Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley 6.43 per cent, Joel Richters 6.37 per cent, Morwenna Harslett 6.23 per cent and David Thompson creeping up from ninth with 6.19 per cent.
This count means the region is likely to say goodbye to sitting councillors Andrew Gale, Stephen Tancred and Cameron Gow.
Looking to hold her current seat, Cynthia McDonald said from her perspective it was shaping up to look like a fantastic team.
“I am very happy to see the diversity in the people that have been picked by the community, with age, profession and geographical,” Ms McDonald said.
“I believe we will make a cohesive team once it all comes together and I look forward to the next four years.”
Sitting at the seventh spot council elect Joel Richters said that based on the current trends the results were unlikely to change.
“I’m excited if I’m going to be part of the new council to get going,” Mr Richters said.
“I’m eager to get out there and meet many more people and really push ahead with the things that I promised people I would do.”
The youngest council elect at just 31 years old, Sarah Deane said she was excited to get to work and serve her community over the next four years.
“It’s truly humbling that our community put their trust in me and I won’t let them down,” Ms Deane said.
Russell Wantling, whose second time running for councillor is shaping up to be more successful, said it had been quite a journey these past few weeks, but he was feeling the excitement as the finish line nears.
“It’s humbling to know that people have shown their support by voting for me,” Mr Wantling said.
“Currently sitting in fifth spot with the last of the postal and declaration votes to come, it looks promising that I’ll maintain my position. However, I’ve learned not to get ahead of myself.
“I eagerly await the final count and official announcement, remaining cautiously optimistic about the outcome. Once confirmed, I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work representing the people of the Southern Downs.”
Morwenna Harslett, as the person sitting in the hot seat of eighth place for a number of days, said that whether or not she won a place in the councillor line-up, she’d had a very exciting week while balancing on the edge and knowing she could be overtaken at any time.
“I think this rates as the most exciting few days in my life,” Ms Harslett said.
“But I’m looking forward to getting some sleep once I know one way or the other.”
With 17 candidates and only eight making it in there were nine who just missed out.
Despite sitting in the 16th spot, Brett Tunbridge said he was very happy with what he was able to do with his limited budget.
“I wasn’t able to man booths everywhere but with the message I put out I believe it was well received and the fact that thousands of people put their trust in me means a lot,” Mr Tunbridge said.
“I think that the opportunity to get out amongst people and hear what their concerns are is one of the most important things you can do in a political field.
Not one to back down, Tunbridge has already launched his campaign for the Maranoa Federal election as part of the Australian Federation Party.
“I think there is room for some big expansion there and I’ll be contesting the federal election,” he said.
Not as happy with his spot, Kelvin Johnston, who sat third last with almost 6800 votes in the initial count, condemned several death threats made against him which he said had been referred to police in Toowoomba.
“I think it was an affront against democracy,“ Mr Johnston said.
“Being unintelligent, gullible and naive is not a defence for this sort of behaviour.“
The final call will be made once all preference votes have been counted and the new councillors will be sworn in on 3 April.
