Integrity, fairness and community are three personal pillars for David Harris and qualities he believes more of is needed inside the City of Ballarat.
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So after two years of contemplating he has decided to stand as an independent candidate for the Ballarat City Council North Ward in this year's council elections.
It comes after years of service to the community both in his job with the CFA as assistant chief fire officer and in volunteer positions with various groups around the city and particularly Miners Rest where he lives with his young family.
"I have been very disappointed by this Council. The recent ombudsman report and the outcomes of IBAC Operation Royston speak volumes about a culture that developed under their watch. Integrity is lacking in that chamber," he said.
"Council needs to improve the way it spends money and delivers services across the municipality. Ratepayers, residents and businesses have broad interests, so they need councillors who are capable of establishing policies and budgets that meet these needs."
Councillors should serve their community. If elected I will listen to constituents, understand their endeavours and represent their views. I will govern impartially for their benefit. Party endorsed candidates are beholden to their party, independent candidates are beholden to their electorate.
- David Harris
In addition to integrity and governance, Mr Harris is passionate about improving the future of children through maternal and child health and early childhood services, particularly in the growth areas north and west of the city.
Since 2013 he has been a member of the Miners Rest Primary School Council and over six years as president the school council was able to establish a kindergarten and early learning centre and in 2018 secured $21 million to fund an expansion of the rapidly growing school.
In Ballarat, children are considered vulnerable in two of the five domains measured in the Australian Early Development Census, which is completed every three years. "As a council we need to focus on improving maternal child health services and early learning services - it's about our future," he said.
"It makes so much sense in a social sense and economic sense if we want to save money we need to help address issues at the start ... give the best opportunity for kids early so less intervention is required at school and beyond so they can go on to meet their potential when we need to address more pressing things like climate change and technological change."
Also in his spotlight are council's implementation of the township plans for Cardigan Village, Miners Rest and Learmonth and the need for an urban renewal plan for Wendouree and Ballarat North.
And he believes team work is key to getting good outcomes for those in his ward, particularly communities spread across different wards.
"Those suburbs on the fringe where they are separated across different wards, clearly we want people who can work as a team. If we put the effort together as council, as a team, we can deliver for the community," he said.
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