PROMINENT former mayor John Freeman will run for Logan mayor, throwing the race for the city’s top job wide open.
Mr Freeman said he would campaign hard on integrity issues, calling on all mayoral candidates to declare how much was being spent on their campaigns and where money was coming from.
Nominations for candidates officially open on Monday, with the possibility of other residents to run for the mayoralty.
Mr Freeman will join mayoral front runners, Brett Raguse, Luke Smith and Ken Houliston.
Child safety campaigner Hetty Johnston had proposed to nominate but pulled out while current Mayor Pam Parker is not standing.
Mr Freeman said he had introduced a vision for Logan City in 2000 to make the place a good area to live and work and it had been let go.
The vision also was for integrity in local government and he would pursue this relentlessly.
Mr Freeman said he would be the underdog but was fit and ready to go.
“It would be an honour to be re-elected as mayor of Logan but I most definitely will not compromise my integrity to get it, he said.
“This election campaign should be all about integrity, leadership, vision and experience.
“My commitment to Logan voters at the outset ... is that I will publicly name any donors to my campaign no matter how large or small.’’
He said the new mayor must be able to make decisions for the benefit of the community without fear or favour to individuals or self interest groups.
Tens of thousands of dollars had been promised or accepted by opponents and he believed developers, trade unions and self interest groups were backing other candidates.
He said candidate and Councillor Luke Smith’s register of interests included a $2 private company (Logan Futures) of which Rhonda Dore, the partner of a Logan developer and Grant Dearlove, chairman of the council’s development arm, were directors and beneficial shareholders.
He said the registered address and principle place of business of Logan Futures was the same as that of developer D.J. Builders.
D.J. Builders is listed as having given a Mazda utility to Cr Smith.
Mr Freeman said Cr Smith and all other candidates should inform voters about who and how much was donated to their campaigns.
Cr Smith said Mr Freeman, a former bankrupt, was on the wrong track because Logan Futures was set up to meet Queensland Electoral Commission requirements to disclose spending on campaigns.
He said details would be revealed after the election but he did not see the timing as an issue with voters.
“This will be open to everyone to see the details,’’ he said.
Cr Smith said it was likely that he would have received donations from developers but did not have the details.
He saw no conflict of interest with Mr Dearlove working for the council and being part of Logan Futures.
“I’m backed by people around southeast Queensland and lots of mums and dads in Logan,’’ he said. “I’ve got nothing to hide.’’
Mr Freeman said all donation details should be made public, no matter how large or small.
“This is not a stunt, nor a game, this is about the integrity and transparency of the mayoral candidates, this is also about the community being confident that the elected mayor of their city is and will always be above reproach in all their dealings. I have nothing to hide and on one is backing my campaign.’’
Mr Freeman was mayor from 2000 to 2006 when he stood down with health issues, prompting a by-election.