Townsville voters will elect a new mayor on November 15 via a full postal ballot, with the Electoral Commission of Queensland already mailing voting slips. The by-election follows the suspension of former mayor Troy Thompson, who is under investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Thompson, elected in March 2024, was suspended in November after incorrectly stating his defence career involved the SAS. He has denied wrongdoing and is contesting the by-election, promising to audit the last two decades of council and focus on basic services over corporate sponsorships or vanity projects.
Former nurse Harry Patel is running for the fourth time, criticising potential rate increases and opposing paid parking on The Strand, though he supports parking limits to increase turnover. Former Katter's Australian Party MP Nick Dametto, now an independent, aims to improve maintenance of parks and gardens and lobby for redevelopment of The Strand.
Restaurant owner Chris Poulsen wants better maintenance across the city, not just the CBD, and supports environmental approvals for water sports on Ross River Dam. Acting mayor Ann-Maree Greaney pledges community consultation on budgets and no parking meters on The Strand.
