John, why are running for lord mayor?
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I've been a councillor since 2017. I think there is a mood for change away from the major political parties. This council has been dominated by one side of politics, I don't think that is healthy for democracy. I'm concerned that after rate revenue has gone up over 60 per cent since 2015, the Labor bloc looks like they are going to deliver their third deficit in a row. They clearly can't manage money. I want to correct the six years of neglect of inland pools, community sporting amenities, footpaths and of course, surf clubs.
What are your priorities in the next term of council?
Number-one priority is the infrastructure backlog. We need to recalibrate the works budget and spend at least 50 per cent on fixing the many things we take for granted; inland pools, footpaths and sporting amenities.
We need to focus on open and transparent governance. This has been a council that has been characterised by wasteful spending, lots of secrets and lots of spin. I think we've dropped the ball with community engagement. This council has often adopted positions, dug its heels in and stopped listening. We need a council willing to engage and sometimes change its mind when it gets it wrong.
What is the biggest challenge facing the council?
Housing is critical. However council has to understand it's one of many stakeholders. We need to be very careful that we engage with state and federal governments - it's largely a state responsibility - but we should be working with them. What we shouldn't be allowing to happen is for cost-shifting to take place and for us to suddenly have to provide housing, which would then threaten essential services.
The biggest opportunity?
We need to refocus on small business, attracting high-tech innovative industries, and job creation. It would be great if we could retain more smart young people who want to live in our city, and I think that is starting to happen. There's an opportunity to get cracking on stage two of the Newcastle Ocean Baths. We also think we can get going on some serious planning, design work and maybe construction of the all-year round aquatic centre at Lambton Pool.
The Independents have promised a lot ahead of this election, how can you be sure you'll be able to deliver on those promises?
What we can deliver will depend on the composition of the next council. We believe there is plenty of revenue of years and years of major rate increases, it's just in the past it's been wasted on things like the multi-million dollar fit out of the new admin building, duplicating the council chamber when there is a perfectly good chamber in City Hall, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on changing the council logo, spending money on VIP Supercars lunches for Mrs Nelmes and her friends and an overseas junket for councillor Duncan. If we didn't have that type of wasteful spending ... we'd have plenty of money to fulfil our promises we believe.
If you're elected lord mayor how will you manage the role in conjunction with your occupation as a real estate agent?
I've worked in the property industry the whole time I've been a councillor. I'm now working in the Lake Macquarie area so that there is no conflict of interest. It actually gives me an insight into the issues surrounding housing supply, the difficulty that renters face [and] first home buyers. If housing supply and affordable housing is going to be such a burning issue ... you need someone with some property experience. I have managed all of my conflicts of interest completely openly and transparently.
There's a bill before state parliament which proposes banning agents from council, you could have to decide on council or work?
I don't think that bill is going to be approved, but let's cross that bridge when we come to it. There's been plenty of examples of people in the past who have been in the property industry who have served council well. John McNaughton, the former Labor lord mayor was a surveyor working directly with property developers.
You've been attacked by Labor for your support of Cr Allan Robinson prior to parting ways with him in July, why didn't you call him out about his behaviour?
He is an independent councillor - we are not a political party and his views are not mine. For most of the year, the allegations against Cr Robinson were the subject of a raft of various investigations. I've always had a strong view you need to allow due process to take place and commentary from people doesn't add to that in any way. But once the findings were released we acted decisively; we met with Allan, we agreed there was no place for homophobic or verbal abuse at anytime.
In what areas has the council been doing well?
Council is doing well on its climate-action targets and plans, and we've supported that. DA approvals - more than a billion dollars of approvals have passed through council again. I think we're doing well in attracting major events to boost local tourism. We're more than happy to give credit where credit is due because it's not about political point-scoring, it's about what's best for the city.
Final message to voters?
Find a community-based, non-political independent candidate in your area, that lives in your neighbourhood, and give them your support.