Find out who the bookies are tipping to be Mayor
IF THE bookies are to be believed then we may be in for a few upsets after we vote in this Saturday's local government elections.
Straight off the bat, Gladstone's Deputy Mayor Matt Burnett looks set to grab the top job off incumbent Gail Sellers.
And now it seems that disappointment is set to deepen with Cr Burnett sitting as the comfortable $1.60 favorite ahead of Cr Sellers who is paying $2.50.
In Bundaberg where former mayor Mal Forman announced his retirement in February, another upset is on the cards.
"Elise Cottam is the best backed for a shock result at odds of $11," said Sportbet's Will Byrne.
Meanwhile in Rockhampton Dominic Doblo is the best backed candidate at $7.00 with punters liking his odds more than those of the heavy favorite, Margaret Strelow who is paying a modest $1.50.
It's a similar story on the Fraser Coast with the bookies betting one way and the punters the other.
There one single bet has been taken on incumbent Gerard O'Connell who is paying $1.90 as punters pick an upset with Chris Loft at $2.75 and Steven Coleman at $4.50.
In Mackay it's one way traffic for Greg Williamson, who is a short $1.25 favorite.
On the Sunshine Coast not one single bet has been taken on any candidate other than Mark Jamieson, who is sitting at a short $1.20.
Just north of the Sunshine Coast, in Noosa Sandy Bolton is the price favorite at $1.60 with Tony Wellington at $2.35.
Even the enticing odds of $5.00 on Jamieson's nearest contender, former MaroochyMayor Alison Barry-Jones, could not convince anyone to put their money down.
Toowoomba's incumbent Mayor Paul Antonio also looks set to be returned, with Sportsbet giving him some of the shortest odds possible - $1.05.
In Ipswich no surprises are expected and punters only have eyes for Paul Pisasale who's at $1.10 to win.
In other areas Gold Coast incumbent Tom Tate is being tipped to be returned and LNP candidate Graham Quirk is the punters' favorite.
In the Moreton region incumbent Allan Sutherland is tipped to return and in Gympie Mike Curran is $1.12 favorite.
Mr Byrne said political betting is a growing industry in Australia.
"Political betting is growing and has been around for a very long time," he said.
"In fact we expect turnover on the federal election and even the US Presidency to eclipse turnover for some of this year's major sporting finals.
"Smaller market such as local council elections however turnover quite less and some councils are more popular than others."
SEE THE FULL LIST OF ODDS BELOW
Brisbane Mayoral Election
$1.30 Graham Quirk
$3.00 Rod Harding
Others quoted
Gold Coast Mayoral Election
$1.12 Tom Tate
$7.50 Penny Toland
$8.00 Jim Wilson
Others quoted
Sunshine Coast Mayoral Election
$1.20 Mark Jamieson
$5.00 Alison Barry-Jones
Others quoted
Toowoomba Council Election
$1.05 Paul Antonio
$11 Dirk Egan
$11 Rob Berry
$21 Jim Mcevoy
$34 Lindy Eisling
$501 William Shakespeare
Ipswich Mayoral Election
$1.10 Paul Pisasale
$7.00 Gary Duffy
$16 Peter Luxton
Cairns Mayoral Election
$1.50 Bob Manning
$2.50 Jim Brooks
Townsville Mayoral Election
$1.50 Jenny Hill
$3.00 Jayne Arlett
Others quoted
Gladstone Mayoral Council
$1.60 Matt Burnett
$2.50 Gail Sellers
$11 Michelle Wagner
Gympie Mayoral Election
$1.12 Mick Curran
$3.00 Derek Hume
$21 George Groth
Noosa Shire Council
$1.60 Sandy Bolton
$2.35 Tony Wellington
$21.00 Ray Kelly
Moreton Regional Council Election
$1.35 Allan Sutherland
$5.00 Jason Woodforth
$7.50 Dean Teasdale
$11.00 Barry Botlon
$21.00 John McNaught
$21.00 Shayne Hogan
Fraser Coast Mayoral Election
$1.90 Gerard O'Connell
$2.75 Chris Loft
$4.50 Steven Coleman
Others quoted
Bundaberg Mayoral Election
$1.10 Jack Dempsey
$10 Peter Wyatt
$11 Elise Cottam
Others quoted
Mackay Mayoral Election
$1.25 Greg Williamson
$4.00 Deirdre Comerford
$16 Mitchell Rays
Rockhampton Mayoral Election
$1.50 Margaret Strelow
$3.50 Michael McMillan
$7.00 Dominic Doblo
Others quoted
Logan Mayoral Election
$1.60 Luke Smith
$2.25 Brett Raguse
Others quoted
