The Cairns Regional Council consists of the former shire of Douglas and the City of Cairns.

An interesting contest where the city’s sitting mayor Cr Kevin Byrne is being challenged by the President of the Cairns branch of the Liberal Party.  This is occurring after Cr Byrne unsuccessfully sought Liberal pre-selection for the Federal seat of Leichardt at the 2007 Poll.  

Votes from within Douglas shire will unlikely effect the outcome.

It is possible that the outcome will depend on whether the ALP aligned candidate Val Schier benefits from the two right wing candidates splitting the conservative vote.