Massive social media support gives first mayoral candidate a green light
IT’S been three years since former Ipswich councillor, David Martin, unsuccessfully stood for mayor.
Martin was a councillor for a short 10 months after winning a bi-election in 2017 and there is no doubt his bid for the top job was sabotaged by the fall-out of the government’s sacking of the previous council following the controversial CCC inquiry.
He could have drifted quietly back into his old life as a dedicated vocational training officer assisting troubled youth.
Instead, while he did resume his position with Correctional Services, he started working on promoting Ipswich through social media channels.
Going out every weekend and covering events and local businesses saw him upload thousands of positive comments and photos on his Facebook site “David Martin: Ipswich”.
It’s time for a positive change and I believe I have the energy and the knowledge to deliver what the people of Ipswich are crying out for.
His Facebook account is now more popular than that of nearly every other local council, state or federal politician and boasts 17,000 plus regular followers.
“I was naturally disappointed after the election so I decided then and there that I wasn’t going to let the fact that I didn’t win stop me from promoting the city that I have loved since the day I was born here,” he said.
“Getting out and about as much as I have has also given me the opportunity to clearly measure the performance of the current council and hear first-hand what people thought of their efforts.
“While their media spin doctors are pushing out press releases by the hundreds the truth is they have lost touch with the people of this city and some of their decisions are far from popular.
“They have wasted millions of rate-payers funds trying unsuccessfully to lure businesses to their CBD white elephant, while in the meantime they have let regular services suffer through lack of funding.
“The infighting within the council chambers has become an embarrassment to the city with councillors seemingly chastised like school children if they dare step out into the spotlight. These are just some of the reasons why I have now decided to run for mayor of this great city when the elections come around in March next year.
“It’s time for a positive change and I believe I have the energy and the knowledge to deliver what the people of Ipswich are crying out for,” he said. Unlike the current mayor and the majority of councillors David Martin is not a member of any political party.
At his launch last Thursday night, which was attended by more than 150 supporters, he mentioned this saying that politics had nothing to do with a mayor leading a council.
“You can’t align yourself with one party’s views and try to appease them at every turn,” he said.
“You must do what’s right for the city of Ipswich without fear or favour.”
