An old face says he is ready to make a comeback to Indigo Council.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Larry Goldsworthy served on the council until 2012, when he took a four-year break to spend time with his teenage children.
He is now one of 11 candidates to nominate for election in 2016 so far.
As many as 20 were expected to put up their hands.
“The desire to stand on council hasn't changed,” Mr Goldsworthy said.
“I think I can make a difference.”
The Wodonga police officer and former mayor has watched as robust discussion in Indigo Council sometimes turned into rifts.
“I think the council in particular needs to be more united,” he said.
“The mayor’s the spokesperson for the council and it’s unfair for others to get in the way of that.”
Mr Goldsworthy wanted to see council support improved education in the shire to stop children needing to travel to Albury, Wodonga or Wangaratta.
He also advocated for a change to the rates system, which he said was charging farmers too much.
“There are farmers that pay $10,000 in rates and it’s just not fair, their earnings aren’t in proportion,” Mr Goldsworthy said.
Disability advocate Michelle Critchley, Rutherglen mum Sophie Price, Tidy Towns committee member Jill Jarvis-Wills, Beechworth identity Harry Thomas and Rutherglen anti-truck campaigner Herb Ellerbock were other new candidates.
Jenny O’Connor will again run for election, one of six previous councillors expected to do so.
She said the past four years had been successful for the council, but there were still issues to address, such as the future of the old Beechworth gaol.
“Coming in this time, I feel I understand a lot more than just my patch,” she said.
“I think we've done a really good job managing what's a restrictive financial environment.”
The Beechworth nurse was also an open Greens member and keen to fight for social and environmental improvements.
“Many, many of my fellow candidates are members of political parties, but they don't admit it,” Cr O’Connor said.
“I think there's a lot of progressive people putting their hands up, whether they're Greens members or just support their policies.”
Meanwhile, Wangaratta had seven nominations for its city ward including new faces from the business community Dean Rees and Dave Fuller.
Harry Bussell for South, Ron St Clair for North and Helen Senior for Warby were among outer ward nominees.
Nominations close midday Tuesday.