The public ballot draw for the vacant Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) Councillor position has been completed with the speaking order for the Special Meeting of Council on Tuesday 12 September now finalised.
The full list of nominees, in order of how they will speak at the Special Meeting of Council, is as follows.
- 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
- Jane Summers
At the Special Meeting of Council on 12 September at 2pm, TRC CEO Brian Pidgeon said each nominee would be invited to speak.
“At this meeting, the 23 nominees, in order of the ballot draw, will be afforded the opportunity to speak for up to two minutes about their suitability for the role,” Mr Pidgeon said.
“Following presentations from all the nominees, the current Councillors will then appoint the new Councillor.
“The Special Meeting of Council will be open to the public and livestreamed.”
Mr Pidgeon said Councillors had asked him to investigate a process for conducting a ballot at the Special Meeting of Council to determine a preferred candidate for Council to then formally appoint.
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.
