Beechmont resident Tom Sharp will run for Mayor of Scenic Rim in the local government elections to be held in March next year.
“I’ve made this decision following strong and persistent encouragement from a wide cross-section of residents who say they want a cessation of hostilities within the council chamber and an end to the toxic culture embedded within its bureaucracy,” said Mr Sharp.
“They have made it abundantly clear that they believe something is drastically wrong with the governance of our region during the last four years under the leadership of the current Mayor.
“Four years that have been marked by never-ending, politically motivated and spurious ‘conflict of interest’ claims by the Mayor, which many concerned residents in our community are describing as a debilitating assault on the democratic workings of Council that nullifies their divisional councillor’s capacity to properly represent them in the chamber.
Mr Sharp, who contested the 2020 election for Mayor, said incompetence, legal costs, inefficiencies, and never-ending ‘internal naval gazing’ had cost ratepayers millions in waste and wasted opportunities.
“If elected as Mayor, a major focus for me will be the elimination of waste and a concentration on productive outcomes by leading a united council that spends and delivers on time and within budget.”
“I look forward during the next six months to meeting with as many people as I can throughout Scenic Rim and discussing those issues which are important to them.”
Mr Sharp was born in Beaudesert and spent his early years on the family farm at Beechmont.
Following a career in stockbroking and funds management, he returned to Beechmont in 2013.
Sport was a big part of his early life and since returning to Beechmont he has been involved in the Beechmont Cricket Club and Beechmont Junior Soccer Club.
Mr Sharp’s father, Geoff Sharp, served as a Beaudesert Shire Councillor for 20 years and his great great grandfather, J T Burnett, served as a councillor and founding chairman of Normanby Shire (Harrisville).
Queensland local government elections are scheduled to be held on 16 March 2024.
