Nick Carroll: Incredibly Close! Down to the Wire
COASTALWATCH | NICK CARROLL
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the US Presidential election is pretty close.
But forget that! What about Australia’s surfer politicians? Maurice Cole for the Surf Coast Shire Council and Rabbit for Burleigh?
Almost a week out from time being called, how have our heroes fared?
Well, Maurice outdid himself. He finished way better than we’d expected, with nearly 1400 primary votes — missing out on a council seat by less than 100 votes.
“I can’t help thinking, if I’d just met the deadline for that photo and statement,” he told us.
Nonetheless Maurice seems stoked. He sees the election as a victory for his cause, ie. keeping the bastards honest. Two former councillors lost their seats in resounding fashion, and the winner in the Torquay ward was Greens candidate, Surfrider Foundation member and local paediatrician Kate Gazzard. Not business as usual, in other words.
Be interesting to see what the new councillors can find out about that Winkipop walkway.
Meanwhile in Burleigh, Rabbit’s walking the knife edge. With 80% of the vote now counted and preferences yet to be distributed, the seat remains one of just four yet to be called.
Queensland was swept by Rabbit’s mentor, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, and Bugs seems to have improved the Labor vote in Burleigh, but may not overcome LNP incumbent Michael Hart, who will benefit from One Nation preferences.
We look forward to interviewing the Rabbi once this whole mess is concluded.
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