Nomination Day

Today is nomination day. The day everyone finds out exactly who is running in the local government elections and where they are placed on the ballot paper.

Our Lake Macquarie team is experientially and socially diverse. The lead candidates in all the wards are female. The number of females councilors that have represented the city is less than 10, from memory about 6 but I'd have to check...none the less the perspective of half of the population has a lot to offer.

Our North Ward candidate Hannah Gissane is 19. A youth voice to be heard at one of the most changing times in recent history. Hannah is someone who can articulate what youth want for their future. Whilst some may question what a teenager can offer to the political process I think Hannah's presence on Council would provide a constant reality check that it is the future that is being determined and there should be someone representing the views of the generation that will be living with the decisions of today. I think it is also time to be looking at doing things differently.

In order to address climate change we need to change our approach to many things. A youth perspective can offer alternative or different options that may at first seem 'out there' but may provide a new or unique solution. The Greens have often been targeted for their alternative solutions, it wasn't that long ago the Greens were the trying to get climate change on the agenda.

Representing East Ward is Phillipa Parsons. Phillipa has a professional background and qualifications in business management and training. Currently completing a teaching degree, she has served as a NSW police officer, insurance investigator, and operations manager of a national company.

I'm running as the Mayoral and West Ward candidate. I know it's going to be hard to replace Greg and realistically it's probably not going to happen this year, but I really would one day love to be Mayor and look after the City. To do this I need to understand how everything works and to do that I have to get on to Council to start with.

West Ward is where I live and where I want to represent. This ward is going to be under huge population pressures and it's a chance to have a voice on Council that demands to do things differently and for the future whilst respecting the exisiting population has chosen to live here because it is a beautiful city, with a fantastic environment, and we want to keep it that way.