Bob Manning joins the race to be Cairns mayor
Economy focus: Bob Manning is in the race to become the mayor of Cairns.
Mr Manning announced he is running under a campaign to restore the economy, but he is remaining tight-lipped about his team's policies until closer to the election, due on March 31.
"Our focus will be doing that which serves the economy and gets the economy going," he said, adding Cairns Airport, Ports North, Cairns Base Hospital, James Cook University and the defence force will be included in his policies.
"We have developed policies that deal with what we think are the main economic drivers."
"Our focus will be doing that which serves the economy and gets the economy going," he said, adding Cairns Airport, Ports North, Cairns Base Hospital, James Cook University and the defence force will be included in his policies.
"We have developed policies that deal with what we think are the main economic drivers."
The team had tried to keep details of its line-up under wraps, but speculation about Mr Manning's tilt at the top job has been building since November.
Far Northern aviation stalwart Bob Norman and former mayor Kevin Byrne were also believed to be in talks to run as Unity's leader when work started on resurrecting the group last year.
The Unity brand was dumped by voters at the 2008 council election, with Mr Byrne beaten by Val Schier, and only one candidate, Linda Cooper, earning a place on the council.
The team officially named its mayoral candidate at a press conference this morning, but won't reveal its policies or a full line-up of candidates until closer to the local government election, due on March 31.
Although voters won’t go to the ballot box for another two months, council hopefuls are already campaigning in earnest.
Deputy Mayor Margaret Cochrane unveiled her team of candidates last week and Mayor Val Schier will host a campaign launch tomorrow.
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Bob Manning has officially joined the four-way race to become the mayor of Cairns.
The former Cairns Port Authority chief executive will lead the re-formed Unity team, joining a field of mayoral candidates, which includes Mayor Val Schier, her deputy Margaret Cochrane and businessman Ian Thomas.
Mr Manning, who is the Norship Marine business manager, is no stranger to politics, having stood unsuccessfully for the Liberal Party against Labor MP for Cairns Desley Boyle in 2004. But he said yesterday his bid for the mayoralty was apolitical.
Mr Manning emphasised his team had no political affiliations and most of the candidates had a strong business background. He said he was running under a campaign to restore the city's economy, but was remaining tight-lipped about his team's policies until closer to the election, due on March 31.
"Our focus will be doing that which serves the economy and gets the economy going," he said. "We have developed policies that deal with what we think are the main economic drivers."
Speculation that Mr Manning would vie for the top job has been building since November. He confirmed he was approached to lead the Unity team."It would be a wonderful challenge," he said about the prospect of becoming mayor of Cairns."What we need is good, solid, strong leadership."
The Unity 2012 team will field a candidate in all 10 Cairns Regional Council divisions, with eight candidates already selected, Mr Manning said. The Unity brand was dumped by voters at the 2008 council election, with Kevin Byrne beaten by Cr Schier, and only one candidate, Linda Cooper, winning a place on the council.
One of the key issues in the election will be the $155 million Cairns Entertainment Precinct. Mr Manning has previously criticised the precinct, raising concerns about its cost and waterfront location.
He insisted the council should take a "long-term look" at the entertainment precinct’s proposed location on port-owned land. Mr Thomas has promised to kill off the project, if elected and Cr Cochrane also is a vocal opponent of the plans.
Cr Schier is a chief backer of the precinct.
Deputy Mayor Cochrane unveiled her team of candidates last week and Cr Schier will hold her campaign launch tomorrow.
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The former Cairns Port Authority chief executive will lead the re-formed Unity team, joining a field of mayoral candidates, which includes Mayor Val Schier, her deputy Margaret Cochrane and businessman Ian Thomas.
Mr Manning, who is the Norship Marine business manager, is no stranger to politics, having stood unsuccessfully for the Liberal Party against Labor MP for Cairns Desley Boyle in 2004. But he said yesterday his bid for the mayoralty was apolitical.
Mr Manning emphasised his team had no political affiliations and most of the candidates had a strong business background. He said he was running under a campaign to restore the city's economy, but was remaining tight-lipped about his team's policies until closer to the election, due on March 31.
"Our focus will be doing that which serves the economy and gets the economy going," he said. "We have developed policies that deal with what we think are the main economic drivers."
Speculation that Mr Manning would vie for the top job has been building since November. He confirmed he was approached to lead the Unity team."It would be a wonderful challenge," he said about the prospect of becoming mayor of Cairns."What we need is good, solid, strong leadership."
The Unity 2012 team will field a candidate in all 10 Cairns Regional Council divisions, with eight candidates already selected, Mr Manning said. The Unity brand was dumped by voters at the 2008 council election, with Kevin Byrne beaten by Cr Schier, and only one candidate, Linda Cooper, winning a place on the council.
One of the key issues in the election will be the $155 million Cairns Entertainment Precinct. Mr Manning has previously criticised the precinct, raising concerns about its cost and waterfront location.
He insisted the council should take a "long-term look" at the entertainment precinct’s proposed location on port-owned land. Mr Thomas has promised to kill off the project, if elected and Cr Cochrane also is a vocal opponent of the plans.
Cr Schier is a chief backer of the precinct.
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During a radio interview, Manning refused to renounce the Entertainment Precinct outright. The only one committed to killing this thing is Ian Thomas. And Manning just looks like a Kevin Byrne clone. Sorry, not interested.
ReplyDeleteIts all well and good but what about a policy focused on helping all the Tourism operaters in Cairns and promoting us ( Cairns) as 'the doorway' to the Great Barrier Reef, not just focusing on the Airport and Ports etc.
ReplyDeleteTo keep Policies until closer to time to me sounds as if they dont truly have any yet. In my opinion if other Candidates should let voters have enough time to decide on what Policies they will vote for...to let voters have a short time to decide doesnt allow voters to truly make an informed decision. (thats my opinion anyway).
So sorry wont have my vote.
Sorry I meant to say if some Candidates reveal their Policies to give voters a better opputinity to make an informed decision than All other Candidates who haven't done so should do the same....after all the Voters are the People who decide who they want as Mayor for Cairns.
ReplyDelete