Why I am standing for Mayor

Local Council has a direct and immediate influence on people’s lives with the decisions it makes. It is because of this the community need to be able to have a strong say in how council conducts its business on your behalf.

The community’s involvement should not end with the election of Councillors which sadly has been the case with many Council’s in the past. The community’s involvement should be an ongoing process the full term of each and every Council.

For the community to have a genuine and meaningful say in how Council performs on their behalf will require new initiatives of communication and a complete change of traditional Council culture.

Councils also need to be open and fully accountable. This is most true when Council gets things wrong. Only full disclosure and honesty with the community can ensure Council is run efficiently and transparently so the community can have confidence their organisation is enhancing and protecting their lifestyle and environment while helping build the type of community in which we want to live.

The establishment of the new Fraser Coast Regional Council provides the opportunity to make a fresh start to create a Council that embraces community participation and believes full disclosure is good business. Our new Council needs to work in partnership with the community to unite the region and build a strong future.

A Mayor committed to such a Council has a great influence in making it a reality.

I am standing for Council because I want such a Council.