Keith Douglas enters race for Gold Coast Mayor

by Jeni Bone on 8 Oct 2011 The Gold Coast’s well-known marine campaigner, Keith Douglas has put his hat in the ring for Mayoral elections in 2012.

He joins Cr Susie Douglas (no relation), former councillor David Power and businessman Tom Tate in the race for the top job.

Best known for his quest to save Tipplers Tavern and its iconic barefoot bar on South Stradbroke Island, Keith promised to bring 'new ideas and a change of culture' to Council.

'The mayoral race is no longer boring,' he said, rejecting the assessment that he would be a 'single issue candidate' because of his close ties to the Tipplers campaign.

'The Tipplers debacle is important in that it illustrates the way the present council has treated the people of this city, but giving the city back Tipplers is only one small aspect of the ideas and policies that I will be putting forward for the city.
Nevertheless, I will be stepping down from the leadership of the Marine Action Group so that the two issues are not confused. There is a really strong team at MAG that will continue the fight to save Tipplers.'

Although he ran for Senate for the Australian Fishing and Lifestyle Party and only narrowly missed a spot, Keith stated he is no longer a member of a political party.

He said he would finance his bid by spending a bit of money and raising a bit 'and I will also be utilising some new and interesting campaign techniques but for now I don't want to let the cat out of the bag'.

Keith said he concerned at a trend that is evident across all levels of government - a loss of democratic rights, bureaucratic arrogance and a lack of accountability and will fight hard to see that our rights are restored.

Keith can be contacted on keith@goldcoastmayor.com