DEAR News Of The Area,

ON 30 July I attended an informal ‘Meet the Mayoral Candidates’ at the Laurieton United Services Club.

At this meeting there were only two candidates, Adam Roberts and Mark Hornshaw.

I later discovered that the three other candidates running for mayor had not been invited!

Rachel Sheppard had withdrawn her candidacy by the time of the meeting, but on finding out about it, turned up at the last minute to state her experience of meetings under the current council.

She was shouted down, but managed to voice her views nonetheless.

At the ‘Meet the Candidates’ evening hosted by Hastings Residents Association in Port Macquarie on 19 August, Team Roberts declined the invitation, stating that “they prefer to host their own sessions in a relaxed informal setting”.

The same was true of the ‘Meet the Candidates’ evening held in Wauchope on 27 August.

Am I wrong in thinking the purpose of these meetings is to meet ALL the candidates, or at least a representative from each team, to hear them speak, and to ask important questions?

For those who didn’t attend the evenings mentioned, they’re recorded on youtube, so it’s possible to inform yourself if you want to.

Will team Roberts record their sessions so we can hear their answers to a wide range of community concerns?

Does team Roberts fear uncomfortable questions, or those not related to the tired old line of “roads, rates and rubbish”?

Is team Roberts so sure of winning the election that it feels no need to engage with the public, or is it simply making itself a smaller target?

This election is about issues that matter, not power at any cost.

It is insulting to the voters in this LGA that team Roberts refuses to attend ‘Meet the Candidates’ nights, answer questions, and respectfully debate with all the other candidates who have the decency to show up.

Regards,
Wendy EDGINGTON,
Camden Head.