TERESA Harding has retained the mayoralty of Ipswich City Council following the Local Council Elections on Saturday.
With early voting of 10 per cent of the vote counted, Ms Harding had 49.97 per cent of the vote with her key opponent for a second election for the top job, David Martin, in second place with 29.58 per cent of the vote.
With 70% of the roll counted, Harding held a strong lead of 13,228 votes over Martin, who ran against the incumbent in the 2020 mayoral election.
Martin conceded on Sunday afternoon following Harding’s declaration.
Elected in 2020, Harding was the first non-Labor-aligned Mayor of the region in more than 50 years and the first female Mayor in the city’s 163-year history.
She ran her campaign for re-election on a policy of sustainable growth matched with responsible and strong leadership.
The key points of her policy were based on cost of living & affordability, a fair share for Ipswich led by an expanded advocacy program to receive State and Federal government funding and developing an Ipswich Sports Development Proposal to secure State and Federal government funding for grass roots sporting infrastructure, protecting the city’s natural environment, advocate and supporting thriving communities and leveraging sporting and community opportunities, promote economic development and jobs growth while always maintaining transparent and good governance.
She said she was ‘humbled and relieved’ with the result following another intense campaign.
Having now been given the reins of Town Hall for another four-year term, she said along with her team she would be continuing to show leadership and growth for Ipswich.
With a second tenant in amusement and entertainment company General Public signing on to be a part of the Nicholas Street Precinct last week, the upgrade and revitalisation of the CBD is on the up spearheaded by the Harding-led City Council.
“We need to work together to repair the damage to the reputation of our CBD,” Harding said.
