Former Katter Party deputy leader Nick Dametto has broken ahead with a healthy lead of more than 21,000 votes as ballot papers continued to be counted in Townsville’s mayoral by-election.

By Sunday morning, with about a third of the votes counted, Dametto claimed more than 60 per cent of the vote, followed by current Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney, with just over 12 per cent.

In an online post on Saturday night after Townsville Bulletin called the by-election in his favour, Dametto thanked voters, attaching a picture of himself sharing a beer with locals at the city’s Metropole pub.

Former Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto (far right) thanked Townsville after local media called the mayoral by-election in his favour. Credit: Facebook / Nick Dametto

“Cheers Townsville – I love this city

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