Meet Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council candidates
Voters in Queanbeyan and Palerang will soon elect a new council, with 70 candidates vying for votes. Read our ultimate guide to the candidates contesting the December 4 election.
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NSW council elections are fast approaching and the Queanbeyan-Palerang local government area is an election to watch.
Competition is fierce with 70 candidates running for Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC), a single-ward, 11-seat council.
This election sees the departure of QPRC mayor Tim Overall who has held the top job since 2008.
NSW council elections will be held on December 4, and early voting began on November 22.
All candidates were approached to provide a photo and bio of themselves.
You can also find the nearest polling place here.
Group A: Greens
Katrina Willis
Group A’s first candidate is Katrina Willis.
Ms Willis lives in Queanbeyan where she is involved with the Queanbeyan Sustainability Group, Railway Park Organic Community Garden and the local Landcare group.
“I love the diversity of our towns, villages and rural districts, their history and vitality, ” she said.
Ms Willis has previously worked as a journalist, a policy and media adviser to Greens senators, and on environmental policy and engagement in government.
“On council, I will work for strong climate action, to protect and restore our local environment, provide genuine opportunities for people.”
Forbes Gordon
Group A’s second candidate is Forbes Gordon.
Mr Gordon said he had spent most of his life as a farmer but after being injuring his back he studied law and practised as a lawyer for a decade before returning to farming.
“I am passionate about The Greens because they are the only party with a humanitarian policy towards refugees and their climate change policy is the strongest of any party,” he said.
“I feel it is important to have Green members on Council as there are many areas, such as preserving heritage, preserving the environment, improving roads and services and waste disposal etc., where they can make an important contribution.”
Other candidates
The Greens have four more candidates on their ballot in the following order:
- Melissa Benyon
- Greg Buckman
- Melissa Cox
- Andrew Clark
Group B
Group B is an independent group led by Mareeta Grundy.
While Group B is an independent ticket, Ms Grundy and Cr Trevor Hicks have links to the Nationals.
Ms Grundy was in the running to be the Nationals’ candidate in the 2020 Eden-Monaro by-election.
Cr Hicks was the Nationals’ candidate in the 2020 Eden-Monaro by-election.
There is no official Nationals’ ticket in the QPRC election because the party does not stand in council elections.
Mareeta Grundy
Mareeta Grundy is a Bywong resident with a background in health and business
Ms Grundy says she sees significant financial challenges ahead as the region emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The new council will need to be ready for what’s ahead,” she said.
Ms Grundy “wants to see xouncil change its current trajectory of debit and escalating revenue raising towards efficiency, accountability, productivity and reform”.
“I want a new culture of customer service and consultation, so people feel listened to and valued, and so delivery is consistent with community expectations,” she said.
“I’m running for council to push the efficiency reset button so we don’t end up on our knees financially and operationally.’
photo
Trevor Hicks
Trevor Hicks is a current councillor and says he is contesting the election to “continue his stance on greater transparency and accountability of Council and his push for fairer allocations across the Queanbeyan-Palerang region”.
Cr Hicks said he aimed to streamline operations, identify waste and refocus council’s attention to the grassroots needs of the people.
He said it was “pretty poor” that the council had a reputation for “not even responding to people’s inquiries”. Mr Hicks says he has a strong voice to push for the serious changes that are needed within Council.
Other candidates.
Group B has 5 more candidates listed on their ballot in the following order:
- Frank Bresnik
- Jamie Raynolds
- Bonnie O’Brien
- John Res
- Daniel Edwards
Group C
Group C “Team Sachse” is an independent group led by Margot Sachse.
Margot Sachse
Margot Sachse has been a member of the Jerrabomberra Residents Association for more than 20 years and has been the president of the association for 11 years.
She represents the association on the Canberra Airport Community Aviation Consultation Forum.
Ms Sachse previously worked in the public service and began working for her family business Brandnet in 2009.
Ms Sachse says she is passionate about building strong communities.
Anne Brown
Anne Brown has lived in Jerrabomberra since 1996 where she and her husband have raised their five children.
Ms Brown is heavily involved with the junior AFL program at the Queanbeyan Tigers being both a coach and a committee member for many years.
Ms Brown is a sports participation advocate and is interested in promoting quality sporting facilities for all residents.
Other candidates.
- Stephen Davie
- Stan Cregan
- Gregory Guy
- Lynette Edwards
Group D
Group D is an independent group led by former councillor Steve Taskovski.
Steve Taskovski
Steve Taskovski is a real estate agent and a former councillor who served on the former Queanbeyan Council from 1983 to 2008.
“With over 25 years of experience in local government and as former deputy mayor to the Queanbeyan region I have decided to attempt to return to public office to stand up for the greater Queanbeyan-Palarang region,” he said.
Ben O’Connell
Ben O’Connell is a Captains Flat resident and father of three.
Mr O’Connell has played rugby league for the Queanbeyan Blues for 12 years, this includes playing seniors and a brief appearance in the first grade team.
He also represented Australia in the World Series of Poker in 2011.
“I have had the privilege to have known him for the last 20 years I have watch him grow up in Queanbeyan,” Steve Taskovski said of Mr O’Connell.
Other candidates
- Manpreet Cheema
- Lou Baldan
- Alan Hill
- Mohammad Hasan
- Frank Agresta
- Adam Brogan
- Virginia McNeill
- Ronae Camaggi
Group E
Group E was led by Karuna Bajracharya.
Mr Bajracharya and all other Group E candidates have withdrawn from the election, however their names will still appear on the ballot paper.
“If elected I have already agreed in writing to resign at the very first opportunity,” Mr Bajracharya said.
“For this reason I ask voters to throw all their support behind other strong local candidates.”
Candidates as they appear on the ballot
- Karuna Bajracharya
- Keith Potger
- Nathan Pharoah
- Claire Dougherty
- Deanne Allchin
Group F
Group F is an independent ticket led by councillor Kenrick Winchester.
While the ticket is independent, Mr Winchester is a member of the Australian Labor Party.
Councillor Kenrick Winchester
Councillor Kenrick Winchester is a Googong resident who was born and raised in Queanbeyan and has been on the council since 2012.
Mr Winchester says he is passionate about public education, having been a school captain at Queanbeyan East Public School and Queanbeyan High School.
He is a father of three and his children have “ carried on the family tradition” of attending Queanbeyan East Public School.
He has been the president of Queanbeyan East Public P&C Association for the past five years and was recently elected to the NSW P&C Federation.
He is working with staff of Karabar High School to re-establish a P&C at the school Winchester is the vice president of the Respite Care for QBN Foundation and co-chair of the Queanbeyan Sports Council.
Edwina Webster
Edwina Webster has lived just outside of Bungendore in 2001 and has “loved raising her family in the village”.
Her three sons attended Bungendore Primary School and she has served as the secretary and later treasurer of the Bungendore Tigers Junior Football Club when they began playing rugby league.
In 2019, Ms Webster took on the “mammoth task” of bringing the Bungendore Bowling Club back to life.
The club is now a popular venue for locals and putting the money made by the club back into the hands of the community.
Other candidates
- Peter Lindbeck
- Carla Fahey
- Tony Wood
- Jeffery (Rocky) Burnell
- Murray Lembit
- Matt Morrissey
- Jan Browne
Group G
Group G is an independent ticket led by Councillor Michele Biscotti.
Councillor Michele Biscotti
Michele Biscotti is a Googong resident who was first elected to the QPRC in 2017 and has served 12 months as deputy mayor.
Cr Biscotti is a former businessman and was a specialist ground soldier with the RAAF for eight years.
He has recently conducted logistics for the Australian Government where he was deployed twice to Papua New Guinea and was also a logistics adviser to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
“My focus is to continue to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between our business communities in our Queanbeyan-Palerang region to create long-term value,” he said.
“This includes working collaboratively with the community driving innovation to even further improve our potential.”
Sian Rinaldi
Sian Rinaldi is a first-time candidate who has lived in Queanbeyan for 11 years.
She is the co-president and founding member of The Girls Leadership Network, a co-ordinator of the ACT Greyhound Support Network and sits as the vice president of the global Board for The Change Management Institute.
Ms Rinaldi works as a strategic designer for global design agency ThinkPlace.
If elected to the council, she wants to continue to “ grow the vision for Queanbeyan-Palarang with a focus on community venues, green spaces and providing a space for artists to visit the region”.
Other candidates
- John Talbot
- Kelly Lolesio
- Breat Hunter
- Mandy Ryan
- Resa Spears
- Alex Tine
Group H
Group H is “The Local Party” led by John Mangos
John Mangos
John Mangos was born and bred in Queanbeyan.
He is currently an infrastructure and planning officer at the Australian National Univerity and has worked “in some way, shape or form” in the building and construction industry for over three decades.
Mr Mangoes founded the Organisation for Properly Excellent Chaps in 2014, which is a mental health support group for men.
He has a passion for sport and has coached multiple soccer teams in the capital region.
Mr Mangos says he hopes to bring some positive energy and synergy to council and help change the region for the better.
His motto is “You’ll never ever know if you never have a go.”
Mark Ristic
Mark Ristic is the owner of the Caltex Service Station in Bungendore and has lived in the Queanbeyan Bungendore areas for over 50 years.
He was born on Australia Day to immigrant parents who moved to Queanbeyan in 1972 when he was five.
Prior to taking over the service station his father built in 2000, he worked as a cartographer at National Mapping and AirServices Australia.
Mr Ristic describes his family as “proud longstanding members of the Bungendore business community” and the family will celebrate 50 years in business next year.
Other candidates
- Ashleigh Bujaroski
- Arthur George
- Fillip Pajkovski
- Antonio Kuzmanovski
- Raymond Callan
Group I: Liberal
Group I is the Liberal Party.
Louise Burton
Louise Burton is a resident of Wamboin, grew up in the Monaro region of NSW and has lived in all states of Australia.
She went to high school in Canberra and attended university, where she studied economics, politics and journalism in Adelaide.
Mrs Burton is a small-business owner, mother of three, a military spouse and works as a senior government consultant in Canberra.
She said she is “ passionate about maintaining the unique rural and urban mix of this local government area, and wants to secure the best opportunities and services for residents.
Jacqueline Ternouth
Jacqui Ternouth is an Australian public servant who has served in the Australian Defence Force in both a full and part-time capacity.
Ms Ternouth is originally from Queensland but has lived in Jerrabomberra for 15 years where she and her husband have raised their two sons.
She said she was enthusiastic about creating opportunities for youth, and passionate about preserving the environment.
Ms Ternouth said she was equally conscious of the council providing value for money and being accountable to rate payers for the provision of services.
“I will be an advocate for every rate payer in the Queanbeyan-Palerang LGA,” she said
Councillor Mark Schweikert
Councillor Mark Schweikert has lived in Queanbeyan and Bungendore for over two decades.
He has spent nine years in local government, first on Palerang Council, then on the community liaison committee during amalgamation and finally on QPRC where he served one year as deputy mayor.
Mr Schweikert has been involved in council initiatives including drought relief measures, climate change actions, infrastructure initiatives (particularly in Bungendore),
He is a strong supporter of Australia Day, community and multicultural events.
He describes himself as an “advocate for local businesses to set the environmental conditions for them to thrive”.
Other Candidates
- Robert Boz
- Ross Macdonald
- Rob Schwartz
Group J: Labor
Group J is the Australian Labor Party.
Bryce Wilson
Bryce Wilson is a Jerrabomberra resident and was the Labor candidate for Monaro in the last NSW state election.
He is a former teacher and has been president of the Jerrabomberra Public School Parents and Citizens Association and a member of the local residents’ association.
Mr Wilson says he is keen to work with the community “to really listen and deliver fairer, more equitable outcomes for all the residents of the Queanbeyan-Palerang region”.
Esma Livermore
Esma Livermore has lived in Queanbeyan for 20 years and is a proud Bigambul Woman.
Ms Livermore is an advocate for early childhood education and the engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on regional issues.
John Preston
John “JP” Preston is a long term Bungendore resident.
Mr Preston says he is deeply committed to representing the interests of residents outside the major centres.
He has more than 30 years of government and administrative experience.
Preston said if elected he we will be a “fierce advocate for local jobs for local people”.
Other candidates
- Maimiti Brook
- Kammy Singh
- Timothy Nicholson
- Joel Anderson
Ungrouped Candidates
Four ungrouped candidates are running for a seat in QPRC.
William Waterhouse
William Waterhouse, also known as Wombat Bill, is running as an independent ungrouped candidate.
He is a well-known musician and music educator, a former senior education officer, president of Braidwood’s Native Animal Rescue Group, and the vice president of WILDCARE Queanbeyan.
Mr Waterhouse said he wanted to put the “regional” back into the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.
He supports an immediate review into the council and wants development in the region to focus less on “beautification” and more on upgrading urgent infrastructure.
He opposes the placement of Bungendore High School and the development of a waste incineration plant in Tarago.
Kyol Booth-Hunt
Kyol Booth-Hunt describes himself as a family man from Hoskinstown.
“I believe Queanbeyan-Palerang is not just our wonderful cities but is made up of our great people and greater communities,” he said.
“I am standing as a voice of the communities and a voice of the people”.
Mr Booth-Hunt said if elected to the council he would focus on transparency on council, infrastructure, supporting tourism and rate reform.
James Holgate
James Holgate has lived in Queanbeyan for more than a decade and describes himself as a “genuinely independent” candidate.
Mr Holgate said he had experience in recruitment, management and policy roles along with tertiary qualifications in politics and policy.
“I will promote good ideas and have a healthy scepticism when assessing proposals,” he said.
“I will scrutinise the motives of advocates seeking particular outcomes.
“I stand for those in the community who are under-represented and lack financial or political influence.
Mr Holgate said the cost of living, infrastructure and needs of smaller communities within the Queanbeyan-Palerang region were key issues.
“ I will ensure all communities are represented equally as the forced amalgamation of regional councils has disenfranchised smaller communities,” he said.
Ginevra Piesley
Ginny Peisley was born in Canberra and has lived with her family in Royalla for more than 10 years.
Ms Peisley is a mother of three, a former public servant, and now manages a consulting business with her husband.
“I’m passionate about growing and developing the Queanbeyan-Palerang region for the good of all residents,” she said.
“I will support key community priorities including investment in local roads, streamlined planning approval processes, upgraded community facilities and cleaner, greener waste management solutions.”
If elected to the council, Ms Piesley said she would focus on making QPRC more efficient, minimising future rate rises and providing greater transparency for the community on investment decisions.
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