Queensland mayor steps down citing 'smear campaign'

Redland City Mayor Jos Mitchell has stood down after months off the job, alleging a "personalised, coordinated" smear campaign against her. The former police prosecutor has been off work since May and faced being pushed out at next month's council meeting. Councillors had twice voted against Cr Mitchell's absence from meetings. Cr Mitchell — who had been dealing with "complex health conditions" — said she was met with "concerted, ongoing resistance and attacks" since taking the post in 2022. The independent succeeded Karen Williams, who pleaded guilty to drink driving after crashing her car into a ditch while three times over the limit in 2022. Cr Mitchell said 70 complaints had been made against her to the local government watchdog. "There have been threats, continuous accusations and harassment. Our family's cars have been vandalised, we've had a drone hover over our backyard and my husband and our daughter have been targeted online," Cr Mitchell said. She said the past two-and-a-half years had had a "significant effect" on her wellbeing, and her family. "My family has paid a heavy price for my decision to serve our community. While they have dealt with the impact with grace and dignity, no-one should have to accept it as the price of public office," she said. Cr Mitchell, who claimed to have been targeted for threatening the "status quo", added that "there must be room for new representatives who bring new skills, new ways of working and new questions, without retaliation". Redland City Council and Local Government Minister Ann Leahy have been contacted for comment.