12:00a.m. 23rd February 2008

| By Mark Furler

Former Maroochy mayor Alison Barry-Jones decided at the last minute against standing for the new Sunshine Coast super-council.

Former Maroochy mayor Alison Barry-Jones has revealed she was just minutes away from nominating to run as mayor in the Sunshine Coast super-council race.

Ms Barry-Jones, formerly Grosse, said she had her nomination form signed by some high-profile Coast people and was in the car on her way to the electoral office in Nambour before she decided against throwing her hat in the ring, 15 minutes before the close of nominations.

She said she decided against nominating because she feared she would be given a hard time in the media.

"I did pull out of it at the last minute," said Ms Barry Jones, who has taken up opera lessons and said she even imagined singing Amazing Grace as part of her campaign launch.

"I was in the car. I had my form ready to go but decided against it about quarter to 12.

"I suppose it's been my life. It gets in your blood.''

Ms Barry-Jones was the subject of one of the most sordid court cases the Coast has seen when she successfully sued her former lover and colleague Rob Purvis for stalking her.

She also was the subject of adverse findings in the Cole inquiry after the Daily published a series of articles detailing how she and Mr Purvis privately benefited from their roles as the leaders of the Coast's biggest apprenticeship scheme.

The former mayor, one of the driving forces in the early days of an amalgamated council, sent a letter to the Daily yesterday publicly endorsing Noosa mayor Bob Abbot for mayor of the new Coast council.

"Bob Abbot's wealth of government experience and community leadership is what the new Sunshine Coast Regional Council demands,'' Ms Barry-Jones wrote.

"It is well documented that I spearheaded the region's push for amalgamation for many valid reasons.

"During my 30 years of chairing regional organisations in tourism, culture, education, industrial development and regional planning, I have always found Bob and his council fair-minded and supportive.

"Bob displays an admirable strength of character when representing the best interests of his constituents.

"I believe Bob offers the expertise necessary to deliver our region the promise of a cohesive, productive and sustainable future.''

Ms Barry-Jones told thedaily.com.au she had been impressed that Mr Abbot had always been supportive of regional initiatives, such as the establishment of the University of the Sunshine Coast.

She said Noosa had led the way in regional co-operation in a lot of areas and Mr Abbot had been very supportive.

Ms Barry-Jones said Mr Abbot was a "grassroots" politicians who had attended meetings from Caloundra to Noosa to hear what people wanted to say.

And she said she had been impressed with his passion in fighting on behalf of the Noosa community against a forced merger.

"He will now transfer that strength and energy into the protecting the environment and lifestyle of the whole Sunshine Coast.''

Ms Barry-Jones said she had nothing against Mr Natoli, but with three young children, she questioned whether he had the same time as Mr Abbot to put into the top job.

"Bob always looks after the people he represents. I think personally he is the right man for this transition.''

For our election coverage and candidates nominating for council, visit our election '08 page.