CAIRNS councillor Paul Freebody has banned his children from answering the phone to stop them hearing obscenities from strangers in the lead-up to the March 15 election.

The incumbent Division 4 Unity team candidate yesterday told The Cairns Post he could deal with people having a go at him but he would not let his family cop abuse.

Cr Freebody said some of the callers were angry about his alliance with Mayor Kevin Byrne, while others said his wife, Kim, should have corrected the spelling errors in his campaign pamphlets.

Many of his corflute street signs have also been burnt.

"I don't like them ringing my home or my wife - that's not right," Cr Freebody said. "It really rattles the kids. But if people want to have a go at me, that’s fine."

Cr Freebody said he expected some dirt to be flung during the election campaign, but never expected his family to suffer.

"They are ringing her mobile and my home number is unlisted - I have a mobile number that people can call at any time," he said.

"This is my third election and I've never experienced this before."

Despite the disturbing abuse and vandalism, Cr Freebody said his campaign was going well and he was continuing to doorknock new areas in his division, including parts of Mooroobool and City View.

Cr Freebody is up against Cairns 1st candidate Kirsten Lesina and independent Norman Miller.

Mr Miller is the only indigenous candidate who has nominated for the Cairns Regional Council.

He said the response from indigenous members of the division was overwhelming.

"The indigenous people believe it’s time to have someone who can speak on their behalf," Mr Miller said.

"I have a diverse cultural background."

Mr Miller said improving traffic safety in the division would be his priority.

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