Nick Dametto has declared victory in the Townsville mayoral by-election, holding 61 per cent of the 43,000 votes counted as of Sunday. The former Katter's Australian Party MP and Queensland state parliament member resigned from both to run in the contest.
Dametto leads comfortably among eight candidates, with acting mayor Ann-Maree Greaney polling just over 12 per cent. Greaney conceded and said she looked forward to working with Dametto to deliver for Townsville.
The Electoral Commission of Queensland continues to count votes from the full postal ballot, with about 40 per cent of ballots outstanding and due by November 25. Around 142,000 residents received ballots for the by-election triggered by former mayor Troy Thompson's resignation.
Thompson, who ran again and has 6 per cent of votes counted, is the subject of a finished but unreleased Crime and Corruption Commission report investigating his military, education and business credentials. He denies wrongdoing and is reviewing the draft report.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli congratulated Dametto early Sunday, saying his government looked forward to working with the former state MP. Dametto thanked voters for choosing hope and pledged to build Townsville as the capital of northern Australia.
