FORMER Wangaratta councillor Julian Fidge will nominate for Ovens Valley in the Victorian election — and he’s issued a no-holds-barred challenge to incumbent Tim McCurdy.

Dr Fidge will be the candidate for the Australian Country Alliance party and believes he will run neck-and-neck with the Nationals MP, who he says has been “disappointing”.

Mr McCurdy is tipped to hold the new electorate — which includes most of the existing Murray Valley seat — with a 19.2 per cent margin.

But Dr Fidge was undeterred.

“I intend to fight a very strong campaign about fresh ideas and I don’t think the National Party or McCurdy will be able to compete,” he said.

“I think I have an even chance to win this seat from him because he has been neglecting the region ... his focus is on Spring Street.”

Dr Fidge is no stranger to criticism himself — the Wangaratta-based GP is most well-known for his role in the dramas that plagued the Wangaratta Council, leading to its eventual dismissal last September.

He was the subject of bullying and harassment allegations, resulting in a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal appeal, the outcome of which is due for release next month.

His defamation action against the council is also in progress.

Dr Fidge conceded his history could impact on his campaign but remained resolute.

“For some people, I accept they blame me for everything and I just have to accept that some people are not reasonable,” he said.

“The truth is coming out and we are slowly being vindicated bit by bit.

“I was elected to reform Wangaratta Council ... and I achieved the reform I said I would.

“I didn’t intend for the council to get sacked of course but the (Victorian) ombudsman has proven that was inappropriate.”

Local government reform would be one of his top priorities if elected, he said, as would the “inequitable” rates on farmers.

He said infrastructure funding was also lacking, pointing to projects like Big Buffalo dam as an example of the government lacking vision.

He vowed to push for all defence material “from boots to boats” to be manufactured in Australia, believing the state had a bigger role to play.

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation was another key area where funds lacked, he said.

Dr Fidge said he joined Australian Country Alliance, formerly Country Alliance, as he felt the major parties were “all beholden to campaign donors”.

Earlier this year it merged with the Victorian branch of Katter’s Australian Party as an independent entity.