Former Katter Party deputy leader Nick Dametto has broken ahead with a healthy lead of more than 21,000 votes as ballot papers continued to be counted in Townsville’s mayoral by-election.
By Sunday morning, with about a third of the votes counted, Dametto claimed more than 60 per cent of the vote, followed by current Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney, with just over 12 per cent.
In an online post on Saturday night after Townsville Bulletin called the by-election in his favour, Dametto thanked voters, attaching a picture of himself sharing a beer with locals at the city’s Metropole pub.
Former Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto (far right) thanked Townsville after local media called the mayoral by-election in his favour.Credit: Facebook / Nick Dametto
“Cheers Townsville – I love this city,” he wrote.
Dametto announced he would run for Townsville mayor hours after former mayor Troy Thompson tendered his resignation following an 18-month investigation from the state corruption watchdog sparked by claims he lied about various credentials, including his military service, in the lead-up to his 2024 victory.
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Thompson ran for re-election in the by-election, and on Sunday morning was sitting with about 5 per cent of the vote.
Dametto did not officially claim victory on Saturday night, with postal votes arriving within the next nine days to remain eligible, although a result could be called before then.
As a state MP, Dametto held the seat of Hinchinbrook, which covered coastal regions north of Townsville, including Ingham and Cardwell, as well as divisions one, two, and four of the Townsville local government area.
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