Brett Raguse
{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1960)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Brett Raguse
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| constituency_MP = Forde
| parliament = Australian
| majority =
| predecessor = Kay Elson
| successor = Bert van Manen
| term_start = 24 November 2007
| term_end = 21 August 2010
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|3|24}}
| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| spouse =
| party = Independent (since 2016)
| otherparty = Labor (until 2016)
| relations =
| children =
| residence =
| alma_mater = Griffith University
| occupation = Teacher, political advisor
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Brett Blair Raguse (born 24 March 1960) is a former Australian politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2010, representing the Division of Forde for the Australian Labor Party (ALP).
Early life
Raguse was born in Brisbane, Queensland.{{cite news|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=HVQ|title=Mr Brett Raguse MP|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=3 May 2020}} His unwed 17-year-old mother Denise gave him up for adoption at birth. Prior to entering politics he worked as a compositor, schoolteacher and director of a TAFE college.{{Cite news|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/new-mps-make-true-confessions/news-story/93bd097b43799d841633ff3f240827f2?sv=4df21e9dc7cdddd6439fc24a58f21965|title=New MPs make true confessions|first=Des|last=Houghton|newspaper=Courier-Mail|date=28 March 2008|access-date=3 May 2020}}
Politics
Raguse gained Labor pre-selection to contest the normally safe Liberal seat of Forde at the 2007 federal election. A position previously held by retiring Liberal Kay Elson. He won an unexpected 14% swing on election day, easily defeating new Liberal candidate Wendy Creighton in what was generally viewed as one of the main upset results of the election.Chambers, Geoff. "ALP Forde lesson". Gold Coast Bulletin, 26 November 2007.Flack, Mark. "Raguse rides Labor wave to parliament". Albert and Logan News, 9 November 2007. He lost his seat in the 2010 federal election to the LNP candidate Bert van Manen.
In March 2015, Raguse confirmed he would be a candidate for mayor of Logan City in the Queensland local government elections set for 19 March 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www.jimboombatimes.com.au/story/2948522/raguse-wants-logan-city-mayoralty/ | title=Brett Raguse wants Logan City mayoralty | author=Joshua Paterson | publisher=Jimboomba Times | date=25 March 2015}} He placed 2nd behind incumbent Luke Smith.{{cite web |url=https://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2016/LoganCityCouncil/results/mayoral/summary.html |title=2016 Logan mayoral results| publisher=Electoral commission of Queensland}}
In 2016, Raguse resigned his Labor party membership to run for Mayor as an Independent.{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/BrettRaguseLoganCity/posts/pfbid0XAS6N2S1ZwtotPiAJCmcQRf27zyfG3PgEe13xUViSucAQFWGQYKU1frqgRq6zuE4l| title=In 2016, when I first decided to run for Mayor, I cut all ties with Labor and have truly been an Independent from that time. |publisher = Brett Raguse|date= 3 February 2024}}
In 2020, Reguse again ran for mayor and placed 2nd to new Mayor Darren Power.{{cite web| url=https://results1.elections.qld.gov.au/lga2020/040| title=2020 Logan mayoral results| publisher=Electoral commission of Queensland}}
In 2024, Reguse ran a 3rd time for Logan city Mayor. {{cite web| url=https://loganwestnews.com.au/brett-raguse-announces-2024-logan-mayoral-candidacy/| title= BRETT RAGUSE ANNOUNCES 2024 LOGAN MAYORAL CANDIDACY| author = Royce Wilson | publisher = Logan West News | date = 25 January 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{succession box | title=Member for Forde | before=Kay Elson | years = 2007–2010 |after=Bert van Manen}}
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Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Forde
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives
Category:Griffith University alumni