{"id":248680,"date":"2019-11-19T15:02:16","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T05:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=248680"},"modified":"2020-07-14T12:39:26","modified_gmt":"2020-07-14T02:39:26","slug":"antonio-to-stand-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/11\/19\/antonio-to-stand-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Antonio To Stand Again"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Toowoomba mayor Paul Antonio … standing again at the 2020 poll<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 19, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio confirmed on Tuesday morning that he would be restanding at the March 2020 Local Government elections.<\/p>\n

If elected, it would be his third term in the top role.<\/p>\n

Mayor Antonio has a long history in local government; in fact, he admitted this would be his 12th election campaign.<\/p>\n

He was originally elected to Millmerran Shire Council in 1982 and served as its mayor from 2000-2008.<\/p>\n

He was elected to the newly amalgamated Toowoomba Regional Council in 2008 and served as Deputy Mayor for four years.<\/p>\n

He was elected TRC Mayor at the 2012 council elections.<\/p>\n

Mayor Antonio said it had been an “absolute privilege” leading the community for the past eight years during a time of “real positivity”.<\/p>\n

He said eight years ago there was no Wellcamp Airport, no Bypass and no talk about rail.<\/p>\n

“I really want to be around to talk about water, to drive the water agenda here,” he told reporters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

“There are so many opportunities here.<\/p>\n

“We need firm, strong, positive leadership to push that agenda forward.”<\/p>\n

No other candidates have put up their hands so far for the Toowoomba Mayoral position.<\/p>\n

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Brett Otto … now standing for Mayor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the South Burnett, Mayor Keith Campbell has not stated whether he will re-stand as Mayor however an announcement is expected next month.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kingaroy accountant Brett Otto, who originally said he would stand for Division 4 at the poll, has now backtracked and announced he will challenge for Mayor and is updating his highway campaign signs accordingly.<\/p>\n

All other South Burnett councillors have stated publicly their intention to re-contest their Divisions.<\/p>\n

Kirstie Schumacher has announced her plans to stand for Division 4.<\/p>\n

The rumour mill has been actively putting forward the names of possible candidates in other Divisions but no one has yet stated their intentions openly.<\/p>\n

In Gympie, Mayor Mick Curran has not said whether he intends to restand however two people have stated their plans in the media to challenge him: Tim Jerome, from Traveston; and current Gympie councillor Glen Hartwig.<\/p>\n

There has been no word yet about potential candidates for Cherbourg Council.<\/p>\n