Mayoral candidate Jos Mitchell has formed a campaign team with prominent sitting councillors and candidates as she steps up her push to win the city’s top job at the 2024 Redland City Council election.
Ms Mitchell made the announcement on social media in September, declaring the group of five would forge a new path forward for Redlands.
The team consists of incumbent councillors Lance Hewlett and Adelia Berridge, and candidates Brian McDonald and Jasper Every.
Ms Mitchell said the group was committed to “leading change” and serving the community with “transparency, integrity and good governance”
“I’m under no illusion about the challenge ahead, so I need a team behind me who are committed to these values,” Ms Mitchell said.
I am really looking forward to working together in a collegial manner with dedicated people I know have our community’s best interests at heart.
Records show the group has been registered with the Australian Electoral Commission under the name “Jos Mitchell Leading Change”.
It comes nine months on from Ms Mitchell officially announcing her candidacy for the city’s top job and vowing to lead an administration with a focus on transparency, professionalism and accountability.
She said her team contained a mix of experienced councillors and skilled candidates from a range of political and professional backgrounds.
“They have already displayed a commitment to go above and beyond and that is what I believe we all want for our community,” Ms Mitchell said.
Jasper Every, an administration officer to the Queensland Parliament, recently announced his candidacy for the Division 6 seat held by Julie Talty.
“I have the experience and drive to bring a new energy into Redland City Council and ensure that there is an experienced younger voice that is thinking about the future service needs of our city,” he said.
“Council needs to be investing to better cater for local growth, as Redland Bay and Mount Cotton have grown rapidly in the last decade with more homes to come.”
Cleveland resident Brian McDonald announced his candidacy for Division 2 earlier this year, saying he would make community engagement a top priority if elected in March.
“I want to see it [division two] represented inclusively and with clarity so the public knows what’s going on and their wishes are represented by the councillors,” he said.
Ms Mitchell has declared she intends to run a grassroots campaign in her bid for the top job – and will do so as an independent.
She will be up against incumbent mayor Karen Williams, who announced in February that she would run for a fourth straight term in 2024.
Cr Williams said at the time that championing the next generation and delivering on her vision for the city were driving her bid for re-election.
Part of that would involve capitalising on Olympic legacy opportunities and advancing a number of council projects to set Redlands up for the future, she said.
Local Government Election day is set down for March 16, 2024.
Cr Williams won the 2020 election with about 51 per cent of the vote, beating Claire Richardson and David Curtin.
It came after successive victories against Melva Hobson (2012), where she won almost 70 per cent of the vote, and Greg Underwood (2016).
