Push for ‘fresh face and new voice’ on council

There will be no pork-barrelling from this pig farmer and Isaac Regional Council contender.

THERE will be no pork-barrelling from this pig farmer and Isaac Regional Council contender.

St Lawrence resident Vivienne Coleman is running for the division eight seat to give a greater voice to rural ratepayers.

For the first time in 18 years Geoff Bethel is not contesting the seat, leaving the way open for a new councillor.

Mrs Coleman said it was time the region had a "fresh face and a new voice".

Her family-run pork farm and construction company had armed her with the knowledge to represent the "diverse" needs of the bush, the mines and the coastal towns, she said.

Agriculture, aquaculture, mining and tourism were all active industries within the division, which extends from Coppabella and Blue Mountain, south to Clarke Creek and east to the coast.

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"There is hard work ahead of anyone who gets elected," Mrs Coleman said.

The mother of two teenagers said the key to representing such a broad community was patience, something she was well equipped with.

If elected, Mrs Coleman aims to regularly visit each of the communities to listen to ratepayers' concerns.

Her election platform will focus on the everyday frustrations of ratepayers, including roads and phone and internet reception.

But she said long-term goals, including health services for the ageing population and education for the next generation, were also on her radar.

Mrs Coleman said she would push for Isaac to raise its voice when dealing with higher levels of government.

"I'm not going to give up. I'm going to keep asking the questions," she said.

This is not Mrs Coleman's first bid to win a seat on council.

In the 2016 local government election she secured 41.66 per cent of the vote, with 427 ballots.

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