Councillor Pulls Out Of LNP Race

April 27, 2016

Toowoomba councillor Nancy Sommerfield has pulled out of the LNP preselection race for the State seat of Toowoomba South.

Cr Sommerfield was one of three candidates who earlier this week put up their hands to be the LNP candidate for the seat, which will become vacant when current MP John McVeigh runs for Groom at the Federal Election on July 2.

She said on Wednesday afternoon she would withdraw from preselection after being “inundated” with messages asking her to continue with the TRC.

In a statement released on social media, Cr Sommerfield said:

“I would like to announce that I am withdrawing from the LNP Toowoomba South pre-selection. Moving from one level of government to another is always about timing.

I have been inundated with messages asking me to continue my role on Council. It has been humbling to hear people speak about the good work I do as a Councillor and that voters don’t want to lose me to State Government. I have listened.

There has been good support for me to make the move to Toowoomba South, but there has been much stronger support for me to stay at Council. I am humbled by this feedback and, following deliberations with my family, I have made a very measured decision to stay at Council where I can continue to do great things through my Water & Waste Portfolio, which I have a passion for.

I now commit to remaining in Local Government into the future, for as long as the electors of the region want me.

As we are reminded regularly through the media, it is important to listen to the people and that is what I have done and, having made this decision, I am excited about continuing to be productive as a Councillor for the whole region, instead of just representing one small section of the region at a State level.”

The remaining candidates in the LNP preselection race for Toowoomba South are David Janetzki, from Heritage Bank, and accountant Sam Wright.

The LNP candidate will be selected on May 7.

Cr Sommerfield was re-elected to the TRC last month.

Should she have resigned, TRC would have had to decide to either hold a by-election or simply appoint the first runner-up at the March poll, which would have been Highfields businessman and former Crows Nest deputy mayor Craig Stibbard.