Johanson to run again – with Clive’s support?
Port Adelaide-Enfield Mayor Gary Johanson is preparing for another tilt at the state seat of Port Adelaide at the next election – and he claims he’s been courted by mining magnate and would-be Prime Minister Clive Palmer.
Johanson told InDaily on Friday that he was preparing for another campaign was open to offers from all political parties.
“I’m definitely thinking of running at the next state election, and I’m open to all offers,” he said. “I’m just waiting for someone to come and make me an offer I can’t refuse.
“Hey, no-one’s made me any offers – unless you discount my good friend Clive Palmer last night. He’s a lovely man, Clive, enjoyed that meal with him last night.”
However, Johanson appears to have knocked back Palmer’s offer.
“No, I haven’t joined the Clive Palmer party. I would just like to point out that I have an obligation on behalf of the ratepayers of Port Adelaide Enfield to attend any political meeting, function, whatever, where possible.
“I don’t judge any of these things as to whether or not I personally support or agree. If someone says what’s this Clive Palmer like, or Nick Xenophon like, or what’s Kevin Rudd like, or what’s Tony Abbot like, I can say I’ve met with them, I think they’re good people, this is what they seem to be trying to get out to the community.”
Johanson contested the seat in the 2012 byelection, after the retirement of former local representative and Rann-government Treasurer Kevin Foley.
Running as an independent Johanson won a 9.6 per cent swing against Labor’s Susan Close.
While not taking the seat, he transformed one of the ALP’s safest seats into one of its most marginal.
During the 2012 by-election campaign Johanson claimed to InDaily he’d been approached by the ALP to run in Port Adelaide as a first choice ahead of Close.
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Johanson’s 2012 campaign motif was a yellow volksvagen beetle in campaign livery he took to driving through the streets of the Port.
He said he was preparing the car – and his family – for another tilt.
“The V-dub’s full of fuel and it’s ready to go.
“At this stage, there is no hard and fast things for me at the next state election, other than my family are obviously getting prepared to stand on polling booths in the heat of the day and the cold of the day, whatever it will be.”
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