Gordon Bradbery poised to seize Wollongong lord mayor job

Wollongong lord mayoral candidate Gordon Bradbery will stroll past the opposition to claim victory at the polling booths next week, according to an exclusive Mercury/IRIS poll.Independent Mr Bradbery would trounce the competition, securing 38 per cent of the primary vote on the back of a sharp swing away from party-affiliated candidates, the poll revealed.After preferences, the former Church on the Mall minister would run away with 61 per cent of the vote, with Liberal candidate John Dorahy securing 39 per cent.All this, and Mr Bradbery has barely set foot on the campaign trail yet.Mr Bradbery yesterday said he was "enthused and encouraged" but said he was cautious not to feel over-confident."This is good news, but at the same time I know it can be snatched away," he said."I just don't want people to see [the result] and give up on me and think it's a given that Bradbery's across the line."I've been ahead before and I know that in the last week of the campaign it can all go pear-shaped."Although hailed a front-runner in the battle to win the seat of Wollongong at the March state election, Mr Bradbery ultimately lost to Labor's Noreen Hay after prematurely claiming victory.The Berkeley man has subsequently kept a low profile and said his grassroots campaign was about substance and commitment."It's just been a campaign where I've built up momentum just out mixing with the people," he said."I'm just very encouraged because so many people are just giving me so much encouragement and support and that's rubbed over into my enthusiasm, but at the same time I'm not taking it for granted."Mr Bradbery said he had been consistent in his engagement with the community throughout the past 15 years and was determined to continue serving the people of Wollongong.The former minister is one of 12 lord mayoral candidates who have either signed or committed to sign the Illawarra Mercury's election Pledge.The candidates have vowed to uphold their promise to serve the people of Wollongong ethically and transparently or relinquish office immediately.IRIS hit the phones on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, randomly polling 800 Wollongong residents aged 18 and over.They found one lord mayoral candidate stood out head and shoulders above the rest.IRIS Research's Simon Pomfret said the results showed a heavy leaning towards some of the election's more notable candidates."People are looking at the independents and as Gordon [Bradbery] was the most high-profile independent, particularly with his run for the state seat, they have picked his name out," Mr Pomfret said."He needed preferences in the end to get over the line but, in terms of dominance, he was clearly out in front."