Good on retiring Division 3 Councillor William Owen-Jones! Countless knowledgeable council staff, like me, who vanished without a fight, have thousands of stories of disgruntlement with Mayor Tom Tate’s 12 year reign on our city. Many can’t speak publicly, because they were paid out with confidentiality clauses. Most don’t because, like WOJ, they feel that life is short and precious. They just want to put bad or frustrating experiences behind them, and they don’t pursue grievances formally because they know that whistleblowers never prosper.

Frequently, since I resigned from a council job that I loved in 2015, I have contemplated publishing my own story. As years passed, and with distance from the council administration, the dark power of political interference became clearer to me. I learnt to recognise the subtle ways that the strong and long Game of Mates has taken grip on our city since 2012, largely due to the influence of Tom Tate, along with his mayoral staffers, who infiltrated the administration and blurred the separation of powers.

But I chose a different course - to study the political landscape and support community causes, and independent, intelligent candidates with integrity, who want to be in the council chamber, to bring great ideas and ask the right questions when things don’t seem right.

There have been few successes yet, but I’m optimistic that this year’s council election will usher in some fresh councillors to help bring back some balance and public trust in council decision-making. I hope for enough change to re-establish an organisational culture where expert, specialist and administrative staff feel uninhibited to give independent advice, without fear or favour, and the record of decision-making is more transparent. I’m pleased that Cr Peter Young has put his hand up again for Division 5. And in Division 4, where my parents live, I have been relieved and delighted that Cr Caldwell stepped out and Shelly Curtis stepped in like a breath of fresh air.

I’m not a revisionist wanting to go back to the future, but I think Eddy Sarroff is the right person to come back for a term as Gold Coast Mayor. I’ve heard some people say that Eddy wasn’t perfect as the longtime councillor for Broadbeach, but as a council officer during his terms, and a Broadbeach resident, I can affirm that Eddy always listened to and respected staff, backed his community, and put the public interest first.

It would be no surprise to anyone that I really, really want Mona Hecke to win in Division 10. I’ll be wearing her identifiable hot pink from now until 16 March.

Mona was runner-up to Darren Taylor’s father Paul for Division 10 in 2016. She was the most credible and courageous challenger as a mayoral candidate in 2020. And thankfully, she has put her hand up again to run this year for Division 10. Mona is the real deal. Savvy, creative, fair, and 100% independent. Given the chance this year, she will make a huge positive difference to this heart of our city.

Today’s story by Ann Wason-Moore cheered me up. I found myself nodding furiously in agreement with the things that WOJ said about “building shit, not bullshit.”

Gold Coast Bulletin, 24 February 2024, p24

I hope that WOJ doesn’t disappear from local politics, and that his courage to spill a few beans encourages others - to tell of their experiences and aspirations for return of a Gold Coast City Council that we can be proud of.