Albury resident Kevin Poulton has publicly declared he will seek the Wodonga mayor position if successful at this month's council election.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The radio morning show host is the only contender in the 19-candidate field to reveal his mayoral ambitions in the official candidate statements posted in recent days on the Victorian Electoral Commission website.
Mr Poulton's Albury residency has been the major talking point of the campaign to date with his eligibility to stand being his status as a director of Albury-Community College which pays rates to council.
But he has also confirmed he owns an investment property in Wodonga for which he pays rates.
A precedent exists of a council rookie being elected to mayor with Mark Byatt rolling Rod Wangman after the 2008 election.
"My preference would be to get in and learn, but I also know I have the capacity to perform from the get-go if required and people have the confidence in me," he said.
"It's one of those things you've got to be realistically prepared for when you don't know who is going to be sitting there."
"It doesn't even go close," he said.
Another candidate, Willem Manley, has taken to social media highlighting concerns about Albury residents being able to run for Wodonga Council.
"We've previously seen many councillors go against the wishes of the residents countless times," he said.
"I think having a councillor who isn't a resident, will just make it even more prevalent."
Mr Poulton also hasn't ruled out continuing to work for 2AY if elected to council.
"If I am a councillor, yes, I know I can perform that duty and also keep doing what I am doing," he said.
"We're in a pandemic and our demographic on that station is 45-years plus.
"They need familiarity, they need rock solid, reliable voices for their lives everyday."
