Cranbourne North resident John Rickard will contest a position on Casey council in the Mayfield Ward.By Bridget Brady
Mr Rickard, 22, has announced he will run for council in the Mayfield Ward.
The current Mayfield Ward councillors are Kevin Bradford and Steve Beardon.
The Cranbourne North resident said the November 29 elections were an opportunity to create a new council for Casey.
“I wish to be part of a new council for residents, one that is open and acts with honesty and integrity… and council time is not wasted with outrageous in-fighting,” Mr Rickard said.
“Casey residents deserve a council that will co-operate and accurately represent them regardless of political or personal differences.”
Bickering and disruption has plagued some Casey council meetings this year and some councillors have used the council forum for personal reasons.
Mr Rickard is a member of the local Greens branch, the Casey-Cardinia- Dandenong Greens, and said there was no reason for candidates to hide their party allegiances.
“I think it’s important to be open about where your party affiliations lie,” Mr Rickard said.
“I think more and more people are seeing the importance of looking after land.”
Mr Rickard, who has lived in Cranbourne for 19 years, said he wanted to protect and enhance Casey’s remnant bush land and open spaces and improve wildlife corridors.
He also wants to advocate the building of train stations in Lynbrook and Cranbourne East and updated and more frequent bus services.
Mr Rickard is completing his final year of study at Chisholm TAFE in Cranbourne, studying conservation and land management.
“I want to restore some respect to the council because I think the residents deserve better and I think a younger, different perspective might be nice.”
“There is no need for a wealth of political experience as now, more than ever, Casey needs community-builders not career-builders.”
