A lawyer who unsuccessfully ran for council as a teenager 12 years ago has announced his intentions to nominate again.
Taylor Bunnag is set to put his name forward for Division 8, which includes Coolum Beach, Marcoola, part of Maroochydore, Mount Coolum, Mudjimba, Pacific Paradise, Point Arkwright, Twin Waters and Yaroomba.
The division is currently held by Jason O’Pray, who is set to run for mayor.
Mr Bunnag, 32, issued a media release stating his intention to run for council at the elections in March.
An industrial lawyer who advocates for workers in the manufacturing industry, he sits on the Queensland Work Health and Safety Board and previously worked as a health lawyer at Maurice Blackburn.
“I am running because I want to protect the identity of our region, maintain our local values and bring new energy to council,” he said via the release.
“We need a councillor who will listen to the community but who will also stand up and advocate for us on issues like sustainable development, easing the cost of living and service delivery.
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“Council could be doing much more to help ease the cost of living for people – I believe that the early rates discount should be reintroduced and that we should be getting better value for money from services like a kerbside clean-up and yearly tip vouchers.
“I want to leave the Sunshine Coast in a better place, so that the next generation can enjoy the same wonderful environment and opportunities that I did growing up here.
“I believe with my strong experience negotiating with small business, multinational companies and governments on behalf of workers, I have the right mix of experience, skills and values to help make good decisions for our region.”
Mr Bunnag ran as a candidate in the neighbouring Division 9 as a 19-year-old in 2012. He received more than 20 per cent of the vote but the division was won by Stephen Robinson with 22 per cent of the vote amid a close six-nominee race.
At the time, he was a leading advocate for real-time political donation disclosure, which is now legislated across Queensland.
“For me, there’s a real sense of unfinished business,” he said.
“The Sekisui decision by council was heartbreaking and it has reinforced for me the importance of having a local councillor with backbone who is committed to protecting our way of life on the Sunshine Coast.”
Mr Bunnag lives at Yaroomba with his wife Gabi and daughter Penelope.
He was born in Buderim and attended school at Coolum, Yandina and then Nambour High, where he graduated as school captain.
He has a double degree Bachelor of Journalism/Laws from the Queensland University of Technology and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law.
He was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2016.
Mr Bunnag is a lifelong surfer and has played football in recent years for the North Shore Jets, where he worked as part of a volunteer team who helped secure the club a grant for oval lighting.
Community advocate Kathryn Hyman has also announced her intentions to run for Division 8.
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