March 17, 2016
South Burnett Mayoral candidate Mike Brown has condemned a personal attack on Division 6 candidate Cr Ros Heit, published this week in the South Burnett Free Press.
In a media release on Thursday, Mr Brown also condemned “all personal attacks made on any candidate during the election” and called on all candidates to keep their comments to the issues at hand.
“No candidate should be personally attacked if they are standing up to represent this community, whether you support their position or not,” he said.
“Attack the issues, attack people’s position on the issues, but do not go personal because we can do better as members of this community.
“I have been personally attacked by current members of Council and other candidates during this election, which has then been reported in media, but I am calling on all candidates to attack and fix the issues, not attack people who are standing to help this community.”
Mr Brown also distanced himself from the South Burnett Residents Action Group (S-BRAG).
He said he was standing as an independent and was “not a member of any specific interest group such as S-BRAG”.
Mr Brown said he had shared information and media releases across all media outlets, and with groups and individuals who had asked in the South Burnett region.
“This is an emotive time because we have never seen so many candidates wanting to create change and it is a close race in many divisions and for Mayor, so I am urging everyone to use that passion to grow a better South Burnett, not to personally attack,” he said.
Seriously Mr Brown? You sit with them at Council meetings, you are happy to be photographed with them, you advertise with them. Too late to turn back now!
I agree. The lies and hatred this group have been trying to spread in our region hasn’t been a secret and it’s been going on for two years. So it’s a bit rich – now the community is starting to rise up as one against them – to suddenly pretend this is all new to you.
You cannot fly with the crows and feed with the crows and then be surprised if you are shot with the crows.
Well said Mr Brown. It is surprising that some in the community only want candidates to supposedly mix only with the “chosen ones”. I would have thought that a candidates responsibility was to mix with all and then sensibly and with common sense listen to all opinions and not shun all the accused groups. It is incredible how some of the critical ones are behaving! really they are acting no better than those that they accuse.
Note, not all those that are loosely associated with these groups share the opinions of some of the very small minority of these groups. Gee the cabal are really on the warpath now hey.
There must be something about this Council [either good or bad] to attract the attention it has over the recent time. It is unprecedented, and at the end of the day we will have a team that everyone will have to work with, like it or not.
One good thing which will come out of all this is that more of the community will be more aware of the council work with the promised improvement of communication and accountability, this was really needed. Bring it on.