A Residential Point To Raise On the Ward 4 And Ward 5 Candiddates of Blacktown City Council

So, when we all decide to vote, a majority of us all want to vote for a candidate that lives in the area, whether it is in a different ward or even  living in the same ward. That places the elected Councillors into the heart of their community. 

On ballot papers there is no indication if the candidate resides with Blacktown  Local Government Area or is a business person, within the area. Also it  brings the question of  if an elected Councillor, lives outside the area, then how could they have  personal interest in the community, because they live elsewhere. 

I understand that as a business person, there may be a 'Commercial' interest, with relations to Council's day to day business. That is to ensure there is proper commercial business in the area and  further growth of. 

Everyone has different personal believes and I understand the freedom of running as a candidate, yet when we are looking at the micro governments in Australia being the Local Government area, I think a candidate should run in it's own residential Ward and a as a business person, you should also be residing within the same Local Government Area and that should be compulsory.

Maybe, you have different thoughts, maybe it doesn't worry you or  maybe you agree. I personally think it is odd that:

• a  business person living outside Blacktown Local Government Area, could live in as far North as Lismore or as far south as Albury (for example), holding their  place of business with Blacktown local  Council can sit as one of the 15 Councillors and  make decisions on behalf of the  community.
• A person living in Ward 1 can run for Ward 5 (for example). If you run for a next door Ward that is fine, but if you are running for a Ward way outside your area, that is difficult.

I think the thing that stands out is there is an interest where it is living within the community or an owner of a business withing the community. Judge that for yourself.

So why am I discussing this, in Ward 4, Liberal Top Candidate, Linda Santos doesn't live with Blacktown City Council, the other two Liberal candidates do and may I say all other candidates  running in Ward 4 and 5. Linda's enrollment qualification is
"Role of Occupier/Rate Paying Lesee".

Click here  details on 'Role of Occupier/Rate Paying Lesee 


Click here for previous post

So this is where you can make your mind on this issue. Do you want to elect  someone who is locally local or someone that is an "outsider" - is a resident living outside the area?