CAMPAIGNING for the state election swung into top gear when Independent candidate for Redlands Sheena Hewlett took to the hustings on Friday.
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Ms Hewlett and a band of helpers, including husband Redland City councillor Lance Hewlett, waved placards and banners at drivers on Cleveland-Redland Bay Road at Victoria Point.
Ms Hewlett decided to run as an independent after her brother, the sitting member Peter Dowling, was dis-endorsed and her husband failed to win LNP pre-selection for the seat.
Ms Hewlett said she could rely on the support of both her husband and brother, who still holds the seat with a 21.2 per cent margin.
She said she would be campaigning to attract more state government funding for roads, which she said had been neglected in the electorate her brother has held since 2009.
To raise money for her campaign, Ms Hewlett has set up an account on gofundme.com for people to make donations and in the first 10 days, raised $1240 from six people.
“I have heard people say I won’t win and I’ll lose the seat for the LNP because I will take that disenchanted vote but that’s not my problem, I’m entitled to run like anyone else is,” she said.
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The LNP’s endorsed candidate, 44-year-old Matt McEachan of Thornlands was also out campaigning, promising to garner funding to widen Cleveland-Redland Bay Road and Mount Cotton Road.
He said he had spoken to Transport Minister Scott Emerson about his “Roads for Redlands” campaign and the need to fix Cleveland-Redland Bay Road, ruled out as an LNP priority in forward estimates in this year's state budget.
Mr McEachan said he was not concerned about minor parties, the Labor Party or Independents.
“I’m not a road engineer but my job is to fight congestion but we would start with intersections which need upgrades and then look at double-laning it,” he said.
He refused to say whether he supported the Shoreline development for Redland Bay, where some of the intersection upgrades would be needed.
He said he would champion extra funding for Redland Hospital’s emergency department and for more police but refused to say whether he would lobby for a police station at Victoria Point.
Cornubia barrister Deborah Kellie will also run for the seat, which covers Cornubia, Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands and the bay islands.
Ms Kellie, 57, said she would lobby for upgrades to Cleveland-Redland Bay Road, Mount Cotton Road and on the bay islands.
She said she would also call for a feasibility study into a Russell Island bridge, if she is elected next year.
