Long-serving Rockhampton Regional Council mayor Margaret Strelow was comfortably returned to the top job at Saturday's local government elections.
Cr Strelow, who became a Rockhampton councillor in 1997 and has since served for 16 years as mayor, polled 23,082 votes or 68.4 per cent of the vote against her only rival Chris Hooper, who recorded 10,622 votes (31.5pc).
Further up the Capricorn Coast, incumbent Livingstone Shire mayor Bill Ludgwig is having a tougher time, trailing challenger Andy Ireland 8631 (46pc) to 7758 votes (41.3pc).
The third candidate in the mayoral poll, Lynelle Burns has received 2364 votes or 12.6pc, with 73pc of the votes counted, and her preferences may need to be allocated.
The other three mayors in the Central Queensland region, Banana's Nev Ferrier, Isaac's Anne Baker and Central Highlands' Kerry Hayes were all elected unopposed when nominations closed a month ago, but there have been contests for councillor positions in their shires.
Banana councillor contest
In Banana, while sitting councillors Colin Semple, Brooke Leo and Terri Boyce were returned in their divisions unopposed, and Phillip Casey was elected in division three, there are close two-cornered contests in two divisions.
In division one, with 57.6pc counted, Jason Williams has 429 votes to John Ramsey's 404, and in division two, Judith Pender has 597 votes to Colin Nevell's 404 votes, with 55.8pc counted.
Banana councillors David Snell, Warren Middleton, Pat Brennan and Vaughn Becker retired at this election.
Isaac councillor contest
In Isaac, current deputy mayor Kelly Vea Vea and fellow councillors Gina Lacey, Lynette Jones and Jane Pickels were returned unopposed while Gregory Austen replaced Dale Appleton in division one, leaving contests in divisions two and eight.
On Saturday night, Sandy Moffat (534 votes) was leading Nick Wheeler (427 votes) in division two, while in division eight, it was Vivienne Coleman (358 votes) who had a commanding lead over Karen Hindle (153 votes) and Jennifer Ennis (193 votes).
Peter Freeleagus and Geoff Bethel were the other Isaac councillors retiring at this election.
Central Highlands councillor contest
In the Central Highlands, three of the five councillors renominating, Megan Daniels (2490 votes), Christine Rolfe (2234 votes) and Gai Sypher (1976 votes) were topping that poll in early voting on Saturday night while two others, Charlie Brimblecombe (1714 votes) and Alan McIndoe (1656 votes) were trailing.
Joseph Burns had 1969 votes, Nat Curtis 1828, Janice Moriarty 1795, John Watkins 1757, and Anne Carpenter 1744.
According to the ECQ site, only 17.8pc of the vote had been counted there.
Ag-Grow boss Geoff Dein had received 1364 votes.
Rockhampton councillor contest
Contests were held in four divisions for Rockhampton Regional Council positions, with clear outcomes likely in them all by the end of Saturday night.
In division one, Shane Latcham has 2199 votes, or 50pc of the poll, and will be a new councillor, while in division two, incumbent Neil Fisher had 2824 votes to challenger Gavin Shuker's 2070.
The same goes for fellow councillors contesting divisions five and seven.
In division five, Cherie Rutherford has 2874 votes to Peter Anderson's 1812 votes. In division seven, Donna Kirkland (2973 votes) has a clear lead over Noeleen Horan (1558 votes).
Tony Williams, Ellen Smith and Drew Wickerson were returned unopposed for their Rockhampton divisions.
Livingstone councillor contest
Finally, in Livingstone, sitting councillors Glenda Mather and Adam Belot have polled well in early counting, with 2782 and 2405 votes respectively, but fellow incumbent Nigel Hutton is trailing with 2009 votes.
With only 17.3pc of the vote counted there, the other leading contenders for the six council positions were Pat Eastwood (2737 votes), Leah Grice (2250 votes), Tanya Lynch (2240 votes) and Andrea Friend (2173 votes).
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