By Georgia Westgarth
ROB Ward isn’t going to give up on his quest for council.
After running for a seat in the Mayfield Ward four years ago, Mr Ward and Casey Neighbourhood Watch (CNW) chairperson, is hoping 2017 will be his year.
Mr Ward will stand against long-term councillor and former Mayor Amanda Stapledon and Gary Rowe who currently represent the Mayfield Ward.
After announcing his election campaign via Facebook, Mr Ward told The News he was very pleased with the response he received – after getting more than 100 likes.
“I don’t have the profile of a councillor, but I thought I would tell some of my friends,” he said.
Mr Ward has lived in Casey since 1999 and says he knows what affects residents the most, and his top priority is crime.
“Community safety has been an issue for a long time, but it really has reached a tipping point, where people are genuinely concerned,” Mr Ward said.
“While there is a limit to what the council can do, as a council I think we can lobby better.”
That said, Mr Ward fancies himself as quite the lobbyist, saying he knows his way around Spring Street.
“I worked for the Australian Christian lobby for five years as State Director, when it comes to political lobbying and particularly on safety; I’ve certainly got good relationships on both sides of the aisle in Spring Street.
“And that’s the key – council politics can become very divided but it ought not to be, it ought to be what’s best for the rate payers and having a strong voice in that role would be very beneficial.”
With that strong voice being his, Mr Ward said if elected he would ensure that the City of Casey continued to lobby for infrastructure, employment and more police in the south-east.
“There’s about 300,000 people based in Casey and there’s almost no state or federal government bodies based here to provide at least a base level of employment,” Mr Ward said.
“I want business to thrive but having a government department would provide a core base level of employment upon which you can build.
“I’m concerned about the lack of local employment and council needs to continue to lobby for that.”
Mr Ward told The News lobbying for infrastructure is another one of his key election commitments.
