LIST: All the candidates running for March council election
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THERE is still three months to go until the Queensland local government elections, but candidates began revealing their intentions as early as September.
There is the likelihood of more candidates entering the race, and if you know of any then feel free to email and let us know.
But for now, we list those that are on the public record:
Division 1 (includes Moore Park Beach, Avondale, Sharon)
Incumbent: Cr Jason Bartels (confirmed October 7)
Cr Bartels was voted in in 2016.
He is a trade qualified plumber, drainer and gasfitter and he and his wife ran their own successful plumbing business.
In 2008 Jason was successfully elected as a councillor for the Maranoa Regional Council.
He then sold his plumbing business and devoted the next four years to the council before heading to the Bundaberg region.
Scott Allison (announced December 4)
The lettuce farmer's main concern would be making sure an open cut coal mine proposed by Fox Resources would never happen, given that it would jeopardise prime agricultural land.
Road improvements and support for small and medium businesses are also of significance to Mr Allison.
DIVISION 2 (includes Childers, Woodgate, Goodwood)
Cr Trevor has a long association with local government in Queensland, having served initially as a councillor with the former Isis Shire Council prior to becoming mayor in 1993 until amalgamation in 2008.
He serves as deputy mayor for Bundaberg Regional Council.
Cr Trevor comes from a sugar cane farming background in the Childers area.
DIVISION 3 (includes Gin Gin, Wallaville, South Kolan)
Cr Honor is councillor for Division 3, covering an area of 3,749 square kilometres.
He spent four years as a councillor in the previous Kolan Shire Council, working in the area of community services and finance.
DIVISION 4 (includes CBD, North Bundaberg)
Cr Blackburn will either become mayor or withdraw from council depending on election results (announced November 20).
Helen served in the Australian Army,is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist and has worked in community-based organisations such as Lifeline, Bundaberg Area Sexual Assault Service and Bundaberg Area Youth Service.
She also has corporate experience and ran Vanish Ink in Bundaberg before selling it.
She was elected as Division 4 councillor in 2016.
Tracey McPhee (announced November 23)
Alowishus owner Tracey McPhee's focuses as a councillor would be in attracting five-star resort style accommodation, filling empty shop fronts in the CBD, and emphasising the need for residents to buy local products.
"I feel I'm in a position now to make some positive change and just be more involved in the whole community," she said.
DIVISION 5 (Bargara)
Incumbent Cr Greg Barnes
Cr Barnes was first elected to the former Burnett Shire Council in March 2000 and re-elected in 2004.
In 2008 he was elected to the new Bundaberg Regional Council and subsequently re-elected in 2012.
Cr Barnes owned and operated a dive shop and charter boat business prior to entering local government, as well as being involved in a number of community endeavours.
DIVISION 6 (includes Elliott Heads, Burnett Heads, Coral Cove)
Cr Rowleson, who was elected in 2016 following the stepping down of his father Danny, will not run for re-election (announced November 22).
Division 6 councillor Scott Rowleson said he would not be running in next year's local government election.
Cr Rowleson said he wanted to become "the normal dad on the school gate" and spend more time with his family.
"I guess the only negative of the job is I do commit full-time," he said.
Kelly Woods (announced December 7)
Having spent the past several years serving the community within the business world, Kelly Woods is looking at a new way to help on a larger scale.
Her solution; to join the council. Ms Woods owns Coffee at Kelly's.
Describing herself as a people-person, Ms Woods said she listened to people and wanted to be able to help them solve problems and grow the community.
Tanya McLoughlin (announced January 8)
Zonta Club Bundaberg's president Tanya McLoughlin is contesting for a seat in the local council chamber.
The Burnett Heads massage therapist's political motto is "authentic heartfelt communication".
"A lot of the time people want to just be heard," she said.
DIVISION 7 (includes Svensson Heights, Thabeban)
Cr Sommerfeld will not run, despite confirming on October 7 that he would. In the council meeting on January 21, he announced he would step down.
"The reason is … if you don't know, I'm 64, it's a four-year term and this is not the job it used to be years ago," Cr Sommerfeld said.
Joseph Ellul (announced January 16)
THE Bundaberg RSL sub-branch president and former Hinkler candidate Joseph Ellul is shifting focus to local government with the announcement of his Division 7 candidacy.
Having grown up on a Bucca farm, Mr Ellul's life has seen him compete internationally in rugby league and union, deployed to Middle East and in East Timor as an officer in the Australian Army and now he's back home and campaigning for a seat as a councillor within the Bundaberg Regional Council.
Ramon Creevey (announced January 30)
LONG-TIME council employee Ramon Creevey has put his hand up for Division 7. Mr Creevey said he had 35 years' experience in frontline operations with the former Gooburrum and Burnett shires and Bundaberg Regional Council. He says his operational experience would be a valuable asset when it came to making sound decisions about council spending.
DIVISION 8 (includes Branyan, Avoca)
Cr Steve Cooper (confirmed December 20)
Cr Cooper has been a resident of Bundaberg for more than 40 years and a resident of Division 8 for 15 years.
He is well known for his long association with the hardware business having previously operated an outlet in Bundaberg for 25 years.
He was elected to Division 8 in a 2018 by-election after David Batt became Bundaberg's MP.
DIVISION 9 (includes Bundaberg East, Kalkie)
Cr Judy Peters announced her intention on November 22.
Cr Peters was recently recognised by the Local Government Association of Queensland for her 25-years of service to the council, of which she has been a dependable part since Mayor Nita Cunningham's administration in 1994.
As a councillor she aimed to give people a voice, and to ensure their challenges were addressed.
Geoff Augutis (announced November 25)
Mr Augutis, 32, is co-owner of Queensland Computers, which he established with his brother Luke in 2005.
While he doesn't live in the division, it does have a special place in his heart.
"It's something I've been thinking about for a while and I feel I'm in quite a unique position to where I have the opportunity to contribute," he said.
May Mitchell (announced January 9)
Bundaberg Regional Council staffer May Mitchell revealed she will campaign for Division 9.
Mrs Mitchell said that as a councillor she wanted to increase liveability, encourage business, limit rate increases, and to boost outdoor recreation, and she would work with each of the councillors and the mayor to achieve these things.
She also has plans to revamp the Deph Geddes dog off-leash park with extra features.
DIVISION 10 (includes Walkervale)
Cr John Learmonth (confirmed October 7)
Through his past ownership of Learmonths' Foodworks, John employed and trained hundreds of staff and has also been heavily involved in volunteer groups.
He was voted in during the 2018 by-election in Division 10 after the late incumbent Peter Heuser stepped down from ill health.
Tim Sayre (confirmed September 24)
Chamber of Commerce president Mr Sayre ran in the by-election in 2018 after Peter Heuser stepped down due to terminal ill-health.
The Division 10 seat was won by John Learmonth.
Mr Sayre said this election was different because he would have a longer campaign, during which he would extensively doorknock to appeal to about 6000 voters in the division.
