Balonne, Southern Downs and Gympie residents are in for a change of leadership after three councillors ousted their sitting mayors in the local government elections.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
First term councillor Samantha O'Toole has been declared mayor of the Balonne Shire Council by the Electoral Commission of Queensland, after receiving 55.56 per cent of the counted vote. Cr O'Toole defeated outgoing mayor Richard Marsh.
In the Southern Downs, Cr Vic Pennisi has been declared mayor after receiving 44.22pc of the counted vote, bringing Tracy Dobie's campaign for a second term to an end.
After taking the lead on election night, Glen Hartwig has now been declared mayor at Gympie. Cr Hartwig received 50.83pc of the vote, ending Cr Mick Curran's mayoralty.
Meanwhile, residents in the Maranoa, Western Downs and Toowoomba voted to return familiar faces.
Tyson Golder is back for his second term as Maranoa mayor after receiving 67pc of the vote. So too, is Western Downs Mayor Paul McVeigh who garnered an impressive 73.45pc of the vote.
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio has been returned for a third term, after commanding 72.74pc of the vote.
Jack Dempsey has retained his role in Bundaberg, attracting 64.18pc of the vote, while George Seymour has had a rousing return after scoring 77.55pc of the vote in the Fraser Coast.
Although the ECQ has not yet declared the result in the Scenic Rim, Mayor Greg Christensen claimed victory last week.
Cr Christensen received 33.82pc to fend off four contenders including former mayor John Brent.
"I feel proud that our council team is bringing great skill to bear under these trying times to support our region's communities," Cr Christensen said.
The ECQ is yet to declare a mayor in the South Burnett, where the race is tight between Brett Otto on 39.75pc and sitting mayor Keith Campbell on 36.61pc.
