Candidates refuse to fill out survey

A growing number of candidates are refusing to fill out a questionnaire from the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) on the basis that they do not want or need endorsement from the specifically formed group.

The Whitsunday Coast Guardian last week featured an article expressing the concerns of the EAC and how they believed somebody was "muddying the waters" and interfering in what they say is quite clearly a straight-forward questionnaire aimed at getting information to the voters in the upcoming council election.

While chairman of the EAC Andrew Marshall confirms some 10 questionnaires have been returned filled out, a growing number of candidates namely in Division 3 (Proserpine) say they will not be working with the WRA.

John "Sarge" Collins has been around town for 44 years.

"What right have they got to question me? I am running and financing myself in this Division as an independent. I am not aligned to any political party of groups.

"The WRA is there for a reason. They as well as the majority of ratepayers are unhappy with the way things are going. However I personally will not be responding to their correspondence.

"I can’t see how a group of five or so people can read a list of answers and turn around and tell the people of the Whitsundays how to vote. What happens next? If elected are they going to be expecting the candidate to bow to their every wish and demand?" Sarge said.

The five or so people, is the line that perplexes the EAC chairman.

"It’s not just five people of the EAC, but the entire membership of the WRA. We have 700 people, so times that by two because of partners, add their families and friends, and you have 25 per cent of the voting population. So perhaps the candidates have misread or misunderstood the information that has been previously circulated," said Mr Marshall.

Mr Marshall says there is a possibility that in a division where three candidates are running, and only one fills out the questionnaire, that a golden opportunity will be thrown away.

Division 3 candidate Kerry Roulston also announces that she will not be seeking or accepting the endorsement of the Whitsunday Ratepayers Association prior to the upcoming local government election.

"Like all community groups, the WRA serves a very valid purpose", Ms Roulston said. "But it would be irresponsible of any candidate to offer any promises or pledges to any community group prior to election."

"People are sick of the politics which seems to have engulfed local government – They don’t want cliques, they don’t want factions, and they don’t want certain groups to be funding certain candidates – they want policy and vision", Ms Roulston said.

"The WRA has attempted to label any candidate who opts not to seek their endorsement as dishonest and fearing transparency. This is simply untrue", Ms Roulston said.

"It is not the job of the WRA to determine which candidates are honest, effective, experienced and fit for holding elected office – that is a role reserved solely for the voters come election time".

Mr Marshall says he cannot understand why anyone would see the WRA as leaning one way or another politically.

"How on earth can we be a politically biased organisation when we have so many people from all different walks of life."

A third candidate for the same division Alan Pershouse also says he won’t be filling it out.

"I really can’t see why they should stand judge and jury on a written survey when they don’t know what we have done," he said.

Two division 2 candidates are also refusing to take part.

Carol Van der Gaag says she objects to the almost intimidatory threat.

"My life is an open book. Anyone can ask anything and look anywhere but I almost feel intimated," said the lady who admitted she hadn’t actually opened the email containing the questionnaire because of the "negative, vindictive nature that surrounded the WRA".

Louise Mahony is in the same boat.

"I will not be answerable to any group. I will not reply to WRA’s survey. I will not be part of any team. I will not be dictated to by any interest group. I will not be an endorsed candidate. I will not be intimidated. My job as a councillor is to represent all of my voters equally. Just because one group shouts loudly will not give it precedence over addressing the pressing long term economic challenges this region is facing," said the Division 1 candidate.

And finally Rogin Taylor.

"My campaign is totally self-funded, I am not part of any group, organisation or association and do not owe anyone any favors. That will allow me, if elected, to be totally independent without any pressure from any group.

"I thought the WRA was interested in rates, insurance etc. It seems that lately they have, if you read their e-mails, been more concerned with character assassination, vindictive and spiteful e-mails and spreading rumors that are blatantly not true about many candidates.

I will not be replying to the ratepayers association as I do not think being on their list of preferred candidates will be an advantage as many voters in the community see the Ratepayers Association’s, Election Advisory Committee as being very arrogant trying to dictate to the voters who they should or should not vote for, when voters should be able to make up their own minds who they want to represent them for the next four years in council."