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Carpentaria Shire Elects new Mayor

CARPENTARIA SHIRE ELECTS QLD’S FIRST INDIGENOUS MAYOR

At 11:30am today newly appointed Mayor of Carpentaria Shire Council, Fred Pascoe, took the Declaration of Office surrounded by family, friends, Council Officers and Councillors.

 Mayor Pascoe is the first Indigenous person directly elected to the position of Mayor in Queensland, outside of an Aboriginal Shire Council, a point not lost on Mr Pascoe.

 “I am very proud and honoured to represent the Carpentaria community as Mayor. I look forward to representing everyone and to uniting each section of the community to progress key projects.”

Three key issues on Mayor Pascoe’s agenda are the Karumba Airstrip, the 2009/10 budget and flood recovery after the prolonged flooding that the Shire experienced in early 2009.

At the Declaration of Office ceremony Mayor Pascoe thanked everyone who supported him and acknowledged the existing Councillor’s efforts over the last twelve months, saying he looked forward to working with the current Councillors and staff.

The election result was officially called at 10am on Tuesday 12 May 2009.

Background Former Mayor, Les Wilson, passed away in early 2009. Following Mr Wilson’s death an election was called for the position of Mayor. Fred Pascoe, Yvonne Tunney and Ronald Strumfels nominated as candidates. The election was held on Saturday 9 May 2009.

Election Results:
Fred Pascoe 337 votes
Yvonne Tunney 218 votes
Ronald Strumfels 187 votes

Mayor Pascoe was a former Carpentaria Shire Councillor serving 11 years in public office from 1997 to 2008 before stepping down at the March 2008 elections.

Fred Pascoe was born and raised in Normanton. Mr Pascoe who attended Longreach Pastoral College has worked in the pastoral industry, mining industry, private enterprises and indigenous organisations. Mayor Pascoe is currently the CEO of Bynoe Community Advancement Cooperative Society Limited, based in Normanton.

Carpentaria Shire Council is a rural and remote Shire in the Gulf of Carpentaria - North West of Queensland. The Shire features two towns Normanton and Karumba and has a population of approximately 2,500 people. The Shire covers an area larger than the state of Tasmania