ELECTION candidates have started to come out of the woodwork with less than six months before the state local government election on March 19.
Mayor Karen Williams, so far running unopposed, set the ball in motion when she caught a train from Cleveland to Brisbane, a la Malcolm Turnbull-style.
She filmed her chats with passengers and posted her journey on social media, signalling the unofficial start of the campaign.
Redland city's 10 divisions and position of mayor are up for grabs.
The biggest contest has unfolded in Division 3, currently covering Cleveland South and Thornlands and is held by Kim-Maree Hardman.
There are proposals to alter boundaries so Division 3 will encompass controversial small-lot developments by Ausbuild and Roycorp.
Cr Hardman, whose 2012 election campaign was backed by Bowman MP Andrew Laming, was not expected to reprise her position, leaving the seat vacant.
Running in that division is Mr Laming's office manager Penny Donald, a 44-year-old married mother of two school-aged children living in Thornlands.
She has lived in Redland for 11 years and worked as a relief teacher at BayView State School and Thornlands State School.
Competition for the seat may also come from 45-year-old veteran Paul Golle, an independent candidate and vocal opponent to small-lot housing in the area.
Mr Golle, along with Cr Hardman, are yet to formally announce their intentions.
Also claiming to be independent is Karyn Owen, a business development manager who lives in Thornlands and has pledged to back Cr Williams and her promise to keep rates rises at CPI.
Ms Owen said she could not "wind back the clock" to rectify developments in the division but would campaign for required infrastructure especially along congested Cleveland-Redland Bay Road.
Division 2, which covers Cleveland and North Stradbroke Island, is also shaping up as a seat to watch.
Long-time sitting councillor Craig Ogilvie, named in this year's Ashley Madison scandal, is up against rookie politician, 51-year-old physio Peter Mitchell, who also claims he is an independent and not aligned with Cr Williams.
Cr Ogilvie, who won the seat for the third time in 2012 with 96 votes, has been a vocal opponent of rezoning council parks for development, extending the urban footprint and an advocate for indigenous affairs on the island.
Mr Mitchell said he would work for "healthy" economies in Cleveland and Straddie along with "balanced development" and better parks and recreational facilities.
Sitting councillor in division 1 Wendy Boglary, who won her seat for a second term in 2012 with 193 votes is, as yet, running unopposed.
Cr Lance Hewlett is so far the only candidate to throw his hat in the ring for Division 4, which he has held since first being elected in 2012.
He resigned as Redlands LNP branch secretary and president last year to have an unsuccessful tilt at pre-selection for the state seat of Redlands.
His brother-in-law Peter Dowling, a former Redland councillor, involved in a 2013 sexting scandal, has denied he will run at the March 19 election.
Sitting councillors in Division 5 and 6, Mark Edwards and Julie Talty are likely to recontest the seats they won for the first time four years ago.
The longest-serving sitting councillor Murray Elliott, first elected in 1997 said he would recontest his Division 7 seat, which covers Alexandra Hills and Capalaba.
He is likely to face tough competition, despite denials of running from possible contenders (Super) Tony Morrisson, who unsuccessfully ran for a federal upper house seat in 2013 and Steve Gleeson, twin brother of Division 9 councillor Paul.
Cr Gleeson said he would recontest his seat, which covers Capalaba.
Former state Labor candidate Tracey Huges will contest Division 8, which covers Birkdale South and Alexandra Hills and is currently held by deputy mayor Alan Beard, who has not yet declared his intention to run.
Ms Huges is an advocate for better disability services and balancing development and protecting the environment.
Former TV star Division 10 councillor Paul Bishop will also recontest his seat, which covers Birkdale and Thorneside.
