A Gold Coast councilor charged with murder has defended his decision to run for re-election after a state MP described his candidacy as ‘completely irresponsible’.
Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden is accused of murdering his 58-year-old stepfather at the family’s Arundel home on August 23, 2023.
After being charged, the councilor was released on bail before being suspended from the Gold Coast City Council six months ago.
But that has not stopped the 32-year-old campaigning for re-election as an independent, rather than the LNP, in the council’s Division 7 electorate ahead of the local government poll on Saturday.
Wearing an ankle monitor hidden by his trousers, he was seen smiling, shaking hands and hugging voters outside an early polling station in Runaway Bay on Friday.
Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, a Gold Coast councillor, is accused of murdering his 58-year-old stepfather on 23 August 2023
Bayldon-Lumsden defended his decision to stand for re-election after a state MP described his candidacy as “completely irresponsible”
Bayldon-Lumsden said his re-election bid had been endorsed by the state government and the local community.
“I know the community has their opinion, that’s the point of an election and they will make the right decision, regardless of the outcome,” he told AAP.
“That is the meaning of democracy.
‘It is up to the voters now who they want as their representative.’
State MP Sam O’Connor said if the incumbent councilor really cared about his community, he would not have put his hand up for re-election.
“It’s completely irresponsible,” the LNP MP for the nearby seat of Bonney told AAP.
‘I don’t want that to be what our area is known for. That’s not what a person who cares about people would do.
“I’ve seen first-hand the impact of (the suspension) as we’ve had no one advocating on the council and have missed the last six months.”
But Bayldon-Lumsden said the now-Queensland premier told him he could run for re-election.
His community has been without representation since he was suspended with pay in September 2023 by then Local Government Minister Steven Miles, who is now Prime Minister.
Sir. Miles said Bayldon-Lumsden would likely be suspended again if re-elected.
“The local government minister will have to consider all the relevant factors to decide whether to suspend him again,” he told reporters on Friday.
“But my view, having been the minister who ultimately made this decision, is that he would have to be suspended given the circumstances.”
Bayldon-Lumsden did not comment on the possibility of further suspension should he be re-elected.
“Democracy should be prioritized so when people speak their mind it should be respected,” he said.
His community has been without representation since he was suspended with pay in September 2023 by then Local Government Minister Steven Miles, who is now Prime Minister.
Several constituents told AAP they were unaware Bayldon-Lumsden had been charged with murder.
But those who did said he was ‘innocent until proven guilty’ and supported his candidacy.
Rivals were quick to warn voters about the murder charge and suspension on Friday.
“There’s a big elephant in the room that people need to be aware of, so I’m respectfully trying to make sure people know that,” candidate Joe Wilkinson said.
Another candidate, Jenna Schroeder, criticized her rival’s decision to run again, saying the community had been without representation for months.
“I understand why people want to support Ryan as a person, but as a candidate I don’t think it’s worth risking our representation,” she said.
Bayldon-Lumsden became the youngest ever Gold Coast councilor when he was elected aged 27 in 2020.
More than 3.5 million Queenslanders are registered to vote in Saturday’s local government poll.
Mayors and councilors are up for election across Queensland’s 77 local governments.
