A FORMER top ethical standards police officer will nominate for a position on Ballarat City Council.Noel Perry yesterday announced he would contest the November election, standing in the north ward where he has lived for the past 20 years.Mr Perry yesterday said Ballarat needed a change."Having observed the proceedings over the last 12 months and also seeing the recent report, I feel it's appropriate that new faces step forward to turn the City of Ballarat around," he said. "We need to get it back to what it used to be and what it should be."Mr Perry said he was nominating in a bid to "restore ethics and accountability" to the town hall.A long-time police officer, Mr Perry held the position of assistant commissioner within Victoria Police's ethical standards division."The recent Inspectors of Municipal Administration investigation into the Ballarat City Council has reinforced the concerns of Ballarat residents that some present councillors and senior management have created a culture of questionable ethics and non transparent accountability," he said."I consider that my extensive senior level management experience, ethical executive ability and commitment to Ballarat are attributes essential to returning credibility to the role of councillors."Mr Perry held the positions of Superintendent and Chief Superintendent of the Ballarat Police Region before starting to commute to Melbourne when he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner.He has been retired since 2004, chairing the Central Highlands Road Safe Council and taking up board and committee roles with Road Safe Victoria and the Ballarat Turf Club. Mr Perry is also a member of the Liberal Party but said he did not believe that party politics should play any part in local government.Meanwhile, University of Ballarat client relationship manager Ben Taylor has also announced he will run for council, contesting the south ward.Mr Taylor, who lives in the ward with his wife and three young children, agreed Ballarat needed a new direction."It is time for council to make something of this city for now and the future," he said.Mr Taylor said the south ward was facing many challenges and needed new direction.Nominations for the council election close today, with last night's information showing more than 30 people had put their hands up.Representation across the municipality's three wards was relatively even, with 10 people announcing they would stand in the new north ward, 13 nominating for central ward and 10 for south ward.The Victorian Electoral Commission will accept nominations until noon today and a draw to decide who will go where on the ballots will be held this afternoon.