January 22, 2020
The Nanango Tourism and Development Association (NaTDA) will hold a candidates forum in March so voters can meet candidates for the March 28 council elections.
The forum will invite South Burnett Mayoral candidates – as well as candidates standing for Councillor positions in Division 1 and Division 2 – to outline why they were standing and what they hope to achieve if elected.
The decision to hold the forum was made at NaTDA’s January meeting on Tuesday night.
President Gloria Kirkness said NaTDA’s candidates forum held at Taras Hall prior to the 2016 council elections had drawn a large crowd and very positive feedback.
“As Nanango’s Chamber of Commerce, I think we are the most appropriate body to organise a local candidates forum,” Gloria said.
“We also represent the broader Nanango community.
“Because of this, we deal with Council a lot and we have local Councillors as members.”
NaTDA secretary Jane Erkens agreed.
“The former Nanango Chamber of Commerce organised candidates forums for decades,” Jane said.
“It’s important voters get to meet the candidates who’ll be running for office, because what these people do in Council if they’re elected can have a big effect on everyone’s lives.”
Former Nanango and South Burnett councillor Barry Green said the 2016 forum had been well run.
“I know a number of people found it eye-opening and it changed the way they voted,” he said.
Division 1 Councillor Roz Frohloff said she thought an NaTDA forum was a good idea, and said both she and Division 2 Councillor Gavin Jones would be very happy to attend.
She thought the same would apply to Mayoral candidates as well.
NaTDA will hold the forum on Tuesday, March 10 at Taras Hall next to Nanango RSL.
Doors will open at 6:00pm for a 6:30pm start.
At present the only South Burnett nominees eligible to participate in the Nanango forum are Cr Roz Frohloff (Division 1), Cr Gavin Jones (Division 2), Mayor Keith Campbell and Mayoral candidates Brett Otto and Abigail Andersson.
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Damien Martoo, from The Martoo Review, is also organising a series of candidates forums ahead of the Council election which will be held at hotels in Kingaroy, Nanango and Murgon.
His “Pollies in the Pub Live Q&A” events will be held in:
- Kingaroy – March 16 – 6:30pm at the Carrollee Hotel (immediately following the next KCCI Meet’n’Greet)
- Nanango – March 18 – 6:30pm at the Palace Hotel
- Murgon – March 20 – 6:30pm at the Royal Hotel
The sessions will also be streamed live on social media.
