Thank you. Our biggest primary vote ever.

Elections are my least favourite part of serving our community. While we are always confident we’ve listened carefully and formulated a campaign that resonates with the majority of each neighbourhood, there’s a vulnerability for me and my family as the election campaign progresses, as we hear contestants articulate an alternative view.

Surely that’s not what people want? Have we really got it wrong? Gosh, that seems a strange priority…

However, the record shows we’ve generally been right and our plan is what people want! That’s reassuring…

In 2012, we got 8,119 votes and won with a 53% two- candidate preferred outcome.

In 2016, we got 12,466 votes and won with a 65% two-candidate preferred outcome.

In 2020, we got 12,618 votes, and won with a 71% two-candidate preferred outcome after a 60.39% primary vote in a 4 candidate contest.

The votes are still being counted for this year’s 2024 local government election but, as at today, we already have 14,160 votes on a 70.42% primary vote.

There are now too few votes remaining for my opponent to be elected even if she received every single one (which is unrealistic and silly). The result will be declared in the coming days.

I am so grateful to be returned as your Councillor for Division 9 until 2028.

There are a bunch of people to thank.

Firstly, thanks to my family. My wife Jude was a trooper, withstanding a sometimes grumpy and distracted husband at home, as well as dealing with online trolling and a relatively constant focus on my stuff rather than her own superb work in the community making films and advertisements for wonderful charities. Thank you Jude. And my boys as well, who managed to navigate the questions at their school about why their dad was plastered all over the road and general questions about what it’s like to be a politician’s son. Thanks for your resilience and assistance, boys! And my mum and dad, who patrolled the pre-poll booth in Mudgeeraba regaling the public of stories of my childhood and their pride and chatting with a few older folk who wanted longer chats about the local area and my values and character.

Secondly, my office team are amazing; Linda, Kazz and Courtney (and past team members Yasmin and Kirsty). Thanks for all your work keeping the wheels turning while I was campaigning, managing the every day business of council without me in the office as much as I normally would be. Thanks for your support and professionalism and work ethic.

Thirdly, thanks to everyone who erected or displayed a sign at their homes or nearby parks. John, Rob, Charles, Kay, Bruce, Dave, Maree and Joshua were particularly helpful in this element of the campaign.

Thanks to everyone who delivered a brochure to their streets and nearby. Ann, Justin, Joshua, Glenn B, Georgina, Jude and Lou, as well as the Crews family were so committed to getting this job done and I thank them and everyone else who helped.

Thanks to the community groups who rallied support for our projects. The Doyles, The Redbacks, the HDNA, the Show Society, Watergum and QCWA Beechmountain were all committed to the projects we had planned impacting them and I am grateful for that advocacy.

And thanks to Yvette from Phoenix and Heidi from Glasson Creative for your work supplying graphics and assets.

Finally, to every person who handed out a How To Vote Card at pre-poll and on election day; a massive thank you! My booth captains and booth setup teams, and my scrutineers, were so excellent and I’m so grateful for all your support. Donna, Josh, Craig, Chris (who got up with me at 445am), Adrian, John, Mark and Carolyn, as well as Tod, Di, Wendy and Steve. There’s heaps of names I’ve missed, I know, but I am really grateful to you all.

Now, we’re ready to get on with the job and deliver on our commitments, as we have always tried to do. Let’s get going together!