August 18, 2023
Twenty-four valid nominations have been submitted to Toowoomba Regional Council to fill the Council vacancy caused by the resignation of Mayor Paul Antonio.
However, one of the nominations has since dropped out, leaving 23 residents competing for the position (in alphabetical order):
- Elizabeth Adams
- Eakraj Adhikari
- Douglas Allen
- Douglas Doelle
- Edwina Farquhar
- Norman Garsden
- Petria Grabham
- Penelope (Penny) Houlahan
- David King
- Irene Kobald
- Daniel McCoy
- Scot McPhie
- Joyce (Joy) Mingay
- Brett Mullen
- Ellisa Parker
- Andrew Reeson
- Robert Relvas
- Yousef Roumieh
- Mikaela Smith
- Kirsten Smolenski
- Philip Spencer
- Jane Summers
- Michael Truskinger
A public ballot draw will now be held to determine the order of speakers at a Special Council Meeting which will appoint the successful candidate.
This draw will occur at 11:30am on Monday (August 21) in City Hall at 541 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba.
The Special Meeting will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, September 12.
“At this meeting, the 23 nominees, in order of Monday’s ballot draw, will be afforded the opportunity to speak for up to two minutes about their suitability for the role,” CEO Brian Pidgeon said.
“The Special Meeting of Council will be open to the public and livestreamed.”
Under the Local Government Act there is no requirement to hold an election to fill the vacant office of Councillor as the vacancy is now too close (within 12 months) to the next quadrennial local government election, set for March 16, 2024.
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UPDATE August 21. This is the order that the candidates will address Council on September 12: Ellisa Parker, Douglas Doelle, Kirsten Smolenski, Irene Kobald, David King, Brett Mullen, Mikaela Smith, Douglas Allen, Penelope (Penny) Houlahan, Elizabeth Adams, Eakraj Adhikari, Petria Grabham, Robert Relvas, Edwina Farquhar, Michael Truskinger, Joyce (Joy) Mingay, Scot McPhie, Daniel McCoy, Philip Spencer, Norman Garsden, Andrew Reeson, Yousef Roumieh and Jane Summers.
