Having previously run as an independent council and federal election candidate, Mr Shady has once again put his hand up for representative office with his nomination in Central Ward for the Ballarat Council election.

For Mr Shady, there is a big difference between the issues a federal candidate needs to deal with compared to those a local candidate sees, but one thing remains the same - the want to see the best for Ballarat.

Mr Shady said he was particularly concerned about the survival of CBD businesses and also finally getting trucks off Remembrance Drive.

See The Courier's council election page in full here.

"From a local point of view, you need to identify what the problems are and fix them, or can you fix them?" Mr Shady said.

"The overlap between state and local council is ever present. Why do we have truck routes in the middle of town? The Link Road won't be coming this term, maybe not next term.

"I've been talking about it for 10 years, I may as well be banging my head against a brick wall."

Mr Shady said he was keen to pressure council to move on activating the CBD, having seen many businesses either close down, or having their backs against the wall.

"For me, the activation of the CBD is important. Everyone said that in 2016 and to me it hasn't happened. You only have to look at the empty shops to know how tough people are doing it," he said.

Mr Shady remains politically unaligned, and while he admits he has been asked a few times who he hoped to preference, he will not be releasing 'how-to-vote' cards, instead leaving it up to the voter to choose.

He said he would like to see some fresh blood on the council. "You look at the current council, there's only three councillors who have been there just the one term or a bit longer," he said.

"I honestly believe when you have served two terms you should step aside as you become part of the fabric of the council and can lose your independence and your role of being there to be a voice for the community.

"How do you get succession if you're not having a change over of people?"

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