Mount Isa's new mayor Danielle Slade said her immediate focus would be on helping Mount Isa businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Electorial Commission Queensland confirned Ms Slade as mayor on Thursday after narrowly defeating incumbent mayor Joyce McCulloch in a drawn out contest that took almost two weeks to settle.
Ms Slade said she was lost for words to describe her feelings.
"I was third on the ballot paper so to know people went looking for me is a real honour, especially when the world is in crisis and we don't like change in a crisis," Ms Slade said.
When asked what she put down her victory to, she said she had been asking people the very same question.
"The general thing sounds like it was because I wanted to make Isa affordable for everyone and that resonated with ratepayers," she said.
"That's what got me in first place."
Ms Slade will have to work with five current councillors (Phil Barwick, Mick Tully, George Fortune, Paul Stretton and Peta MacRae) and independent Kim Coghlan who were all elected with long serving Jean Ferris missing out as did all of Ms Slade's Mount Isa Community Team
Joyce McCulloch graciously congratulated Ms Slade, Ms Coghlan and those who were re-elected.
"Our community needs this new team to quickly overcome any divisiveness and to rapidly unite," Ms McCulloch said. "Differences need to be put aside, so we have an elected council able to work for the good of our community during these difficult times."
Ms Slade agreed and said she was used to serving on committees with different people.
"There will be a good range of different ideas people will bring to the table," she said.
"We've all got to focus in getting on with ensure work for best interest of community."
Ms Slade said her immediate focus was on helping open businesses stay open during the pandemic.
"I want to work with Mount Isa Mines and the mining industry and the hospital and health service and businesses that are open to help to continue to tick over until we are out of this crisis," she said.
"That may mean getting hand sanitiser or whatever they might need to keep going.
Ms Slade said she was also focused on transparency and community engagement.
"Livestreaming the council meeting is a priority because the community wont be able to attend," she said.
"I'm also focused on on eliminating unnecessary spending and cost saving initiatives, we want council assets paying for themselves. But first we must make sure we all survive Covid-19."
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
