Cr Lindsay not runnning again in '08

Cr Fran Lindsay’s decision not to run again as a division 2 councillor (Edmonton, Bentley Park) in the next local government elections is a real loss to the city.

I had been hoping that Cr Lindsay would be re-elected and bring her skills and experience to the new Cairns Regional Council. She is arguably the best performing member of the current council and is the person who demonstrates the most courage in standing up to the current mayor. If she doesn’t agree with the Mayor or Unity Team position she will always challenge in a respectful and assertive way.

She plans well, is always prepared, works with community groups, looks after her constituents and advocates skillfully for them. Division 2 residents – 75% of whom voted for her in the 2004 elections – will be disappointed that she is finally calling it quits. She leaves very big shoes to fill.

Cr Lindsay has stated that she will stay involved in community groups and find more time to spend in her garden and with her recently retired husband. She is a model for current and future councillors and hopefully she will make herself available to mentor her successor or other councillors.

With Cr Lindsay’s retirement the field is now wide open for a new candidate and a fresh face in the much larger division 2 in the new Cairns Regional Council.

The Winds of Change

I've been tree planting this morning with Treeforce and chatting at Holloway's Beach market and people are continuing to tell me that they think that I will go well in the 15 March 2008 election as, "It's time for a change." We need fresh faces and new leadership seems to be the message.

KB wasn't really happy about me telling the Cairns Post that one tired old man had gone federally and there was another to go next March! Surprisingly, Kevin is only a year older than me.

We had an ad in the paper on Saturday that was headed IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE: "In just 100 days we will elect a new Regional Council. That means you will have the opportunity to elect not only new leadership, but a new team with fresh ideas, new energy and proven skills. A team dedicated to:

• protecting our lifestyle, character and diverse communities
• listening to our needs and aspirations
• insisting on sustainable devleopment - NOT growth at any cost
• providing vital plans for the future: climate change, water, transport

With Christmas, New Year and the school holidays in between, time is going to move quickly with the countdown from 100 days.