It's official: Brad Carter is Rockhampton's new mayor

Written by Alex Ternowetsky

Friday, 28 March 2008

The Queensland Electoral Commission today ruled out a ballot recount, which means Brad Carter is the inaugural mayor of the Rockhampton Regional Council.

The public servant ousted Jim McRae by a narrow margin of 219 votes, in an every-vote-does-count scenario that was reminicent of a US presidential election.

The QEC - whose website has been scrutinized closely by political enthusiasts all over Queensland - today confirmed no recount would take place, and Brad Carter had been declared mayor.

Cr Carter - as he shall now be known - expressed happiness but also an eagerness to get on with the business of pushing this region forward.

"I'm naturally very pleased with the result, but I'm more excited to move forward than I am pleased. This region has so much potential and I'm honoured that its inhabitants have shown they have enough faith in me to help develop it," he said.

Mr McRae, a former mayor of the Beef Capital, had called for a recount. In today's Rockhampton Morning Bulletin, he raised a good point when he was quoted as saying:

"It's a matter of 219 votes - I think, on that basis, if I didn't call for a recount people would be asking why not.

"I've got to explore every option."

In addition to these to points, Mr Mcrae was probably hoping his chances of fluking a reversal were also pretty good.

In many ways, the Carter vs McRae race was a case of New Rockhampton vs Good ol' Rocky. Mr McRae campaigned heavily amongst the Rockhampton establishment, and the region's elderly residents, while Mr Carter promoted himself as a fresh face with new ideas.

The latter even launched an active Facebook campaign in the fortnight preceeding the election, reaching out to the young, cool professionals of Rockhampton in a symbolic gesture that indirectly underscored the age difference between himself and the considerably older Mr McRae.



Cr Carter's Facebook page can be viewed here .