The 2016 Brisbane local government election race has begun in earnest, with Lord Mayor Graham Quirk announcing the first three LNP candidates to contest Labor-held wards.
Wynnum small business owner Deirdre Thomson will stand for the north eastern ward of Wynnum-Manly, currently held by Labor’s Peter Cumming.
In Moorooka, in the city’s south, 25-year-old Ashley Higgins will take on the incumbent Steve Griffiths, while in Northgate, financier Adam Allan will take on Labor stalwart Kim Flesser.
Ms Thomson has operated a small business in Wynnum for 17 years and is actively involved in a number of local community organisations including the Wynnum Manly RSL, Wynnum Manly Arts Council, Wynnum Manly Historical Society, Bayside Women in Business, the Bayside South Development Forum and the Wynnum and Districts Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Higgins, a Moorooka resident, is business development and marketing manager of a technology company.
The Griffith University graduate has a commercial pilot’s licence and has a long standing association with the Moorooka Ward.
Mr Allan has worked in financial services for more than 30 years.
He is managing director of Strategical, a boutique advisory firm that assists small to medium sized business with strategic and financial advice.
The MBA holder is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and an Associate Fellow of the Australasian Mutuals Institute.
The Lord Mayor welcomed the trio to his team on Thursday morning.
“Team Quirk welcomes its newest members ... who will be strong voices for local residents and deliver great outcomes for the community,” he said.
“I look forward to working alongside Deirdre, Ashley and Adam to help deliver improved community spaces, modern and reliable public and active transport and economic growth and job opportunities for all Brisbane residents.
“These candidates are passionate about the local communities in these Wards and I know that they will work hard to deliver for residents.”
Presently, 18 of Brisbane City Council’s 26 councillors are LNP members.
Cr Quirk announced in May he would again stand for Lord Mayor in 2016.
Labor are yet to announce any candidates, either in wards or for the lord mayoralty.
