Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden’s Facebook page looks like any other local councillor’s would four months out from an election.
At a Gold Coast community centre, he’s pictured preparing food for the homeless. And if he’s not planting trees in the Arundel wetlands, he’s out attending community events like Diwali, or posting updates about a new toilet block or development application.
It’s business as usual – except for the fact that the 30-year-old is suspended from his role as a division 7 councillor, and is facing a murder charge.
After a brief pause from posting on Facebook, Bayldon-Lumsden – who was charged with the murder of his stepfather, 58-year-old Robert Malcolm Lumsden, at the family’s Arundel home on 23 August – has ramped up his social media presence over the past month.
Speculation is building that he is planning to run again at the March election. Guardian Australia spoke to a number of political opponents who all seem convinced Bayldon-Lumsden is planning to recontest, although he has not commented on the rumours and did not respond to questions from Guardian Australia.
His division has had no vote on the local council since October when Bayldon-Lumsden was suspended by the state government on full pay of $160,000 a year.
His lawyer, Jason Murakami, told the court that Bayldon-Lumsden intends to plead not guilty and that he was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of his stepfather.
The deputy premier, Steven Miles, said in October that there was “nothing in the act that precludes him from running” while facing charges.
With an optional preferential voting system in place, Bayldon-Lumsden could win a seat on Queensland’s second largest city council with only about 25% of the vote.
If Bayldon-Lumsden were re-elected, Miles said the government “would need to revisit the suspension to extend it until such time as the court had delivered a verdict”.
The community is divided over whether Bayldon-Lumsden should put his hand up for re-election before a trial takes place.
Candidate for division 7, Jenna Schroeder, said there was uncertainty as to whether Bayldon-Lumsden might again be suspended by the state government between the election and a trial.
“I do believe he should resign and once his court case is over, consider a return to politics,” Schroeder told Guardian Australia.
State MP for Bonney, Sam O’Connor, told parliament last week of frustration in the community amid Bayldon-Lumsden’s absence.
“The people I represent are seeing their rates go towards paying to have a councillor suspended on full pay and they are also paying for the salary of an adviser who cannot do much other than meet them, listen to their concerns and forward those concerns to the council,” he told parliament last week.
“We are paying twice as much for zero local government representation.”
For some community members, Bayldon-Lumsden remains popular and well liked.
In 2009, at 16 years of age, Bayldon-Lumsden was named Young Queensland Volunteer of the Year for his work with young people with disabilities.
He was studying pharmacy and had worked as a teacher and respite carer when he first ran for council.
In 2020 Bayldon-Lumsden, then 27, received 61.27% of the vote in the 2020 election , making him the youngest councillor in Gold Coast history.
Hussain Baba, the secretary of the Islamic Society on the Gold Coast, has known Bayldon-Lumsden for years and says he’s never had to ask him to help out – he always offers first.
The pair have served many a meal to the homeless over the years and helped support international students together on the Gold Coast during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“He’s very approachable and very genuine,” Baba said. “He’s hardworking and … the community feels sympathy towards him … It’s up to the public to decide whether they want him back.”
The Gold Coast mayor, Tom Tate told Guardian Australia he was “a firm believer in a person’s innocence before the judicial process has concluded”.
“Any decision Ryan makes regarding his future is for him to determine,” he said.
Dr Chris Salisbury, a political historian at the University of Queensland, says he was not aware of anyone else in Australia running for office while facing a murder charge.
Under Queensland laws, a councillor is not automatically suspended for being charged with murder but rather for “integrity offences” which include bribery and fraud.
“Someone throwing their hat in the ring while a murder charge is hanging over them that seems rare, if not unprecedented,” Salisbury said. “But if it’s gonna happen somewhere people would say well, typically in Queensland and typically on Gold Coast.”
Bayldon-Lumsden’s case will next be heard at Southport magistrates court on 19 January.
Bayldon-Lumsden and his lawyer did not respond to Guardian Australia’s requests for comment.
• In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org.
