Re 'Voters Have The Right To Know Political Alliance', Peter Shaw, The Courier, October 11.
This is at least the third attack upon me in the last two weeks by ill informed people hell bent on their own extremist and ignorant views.
If these people had attended any one of a number of public meetings I have been to as a candidate recently they would know I have not, and never have, been a member of, or otherwise associated with, any political party. That includes The Liberal Party, The Labor Party, The Greens or any other political organisation.
My reasons have nothing to do with party politics and I do not think party politics has a place in local government. The existing council is testament to that. I am standing because I am not happy with the current council; because I want to change the way council operates and because I know I have the business skills and enough commonsense to make a valuable contribution as a South Ward councillor.
The reason I stand for council is very clear. We must drive this city back into a place of action, restore confidence in the City of Ballarat from a business, ratepayer and visitor perspective.
Having door knocked in the South Ward I know that people are extremely angry about the poor performance of council. I am receiving emails and phone calls daily from concerned ratepayers and City of Ballarat staff telling me their horror stories and I just say to myself "How did we end up here?"
The manner in which I have allocated my preferences is above reproach. I have personally spoken with many other candidates, at length at times, and through that process I have determined who I think would represent South Ward capably if I am not elected.
My message is clear. If I am not elected, my preferences are allocated to those I feel best suited to take on this important position and to change this council once and for all.
There are two issues of great concern to residents; continued financial mismanagement and wasteful decisions which have led to excessive rate increases above CPI, which has caused financial hardship for many ratepayers.
Secondly, residents are also angry that - with the exception of Cr Samantha McIntosh - incumbent councillors have failed to make senior council officers accountable for their poor performance and advice.
This is time to get back to basics.
Stephen Pelchen
South Ward Candidate