Labor reveals two of its main candidates for the Northern Beaches Council election 2021

A chemical engineer and an active member of the Surf Life Saving community will be hoping to win over voters at the local election.

Labor has revealed two of its lead candidates that will be running in the local election, as a number of other names fight out places for the remaining three wards.

Sam Pigram, a chemical engineer and father-of-two, will be number one on the Manly ticket. He will be up against surprise Liberal choice Georgia Ryburn, 29, who won the recent party preselection contest, and The Greens’ candidate Pamela Dawes.

Your Northern Beaches and Good for Manly – two parties made up of independents – are yet to name their candidates.

Brandt Clifford, an active member of the Surf Life Saving community, will seek to win over voters in Curl Curl Ward.

The local election has been postponed twice because of Covid and will now be held on December 4.

Sam Pigram, Labor candidate for Manly Ward 2021. Picture: Supplied.

He will face Liberal Dave Walton, who is the current representative, and Kristyn Glanville, who is The Greens candidate for Curl Curl.

More candidates are expected.

Mr Pigram said he joined Labor after the last federal election having become despondent by, what he views to be, the government’s poor economic management and lack of climate change action.

He said his job which has taken him to Africa and South America has helped hone his problem-solving skills.

He said he wants to run for his children who will take on record debt levels due to Covid and a changing climate.

Manly Dam is an issue Mr Pigram will campaign on in the 2021 election. Photo Manly Daily

Issues of particular importance to Mr Pigram include the development threats to Manly Dam catchment and the proposed northern beaches tunnel with its lack of a business case and environmental issues.

He also supports the Hop, Skip and Jump bus, and if elected, is committed to all routes being kept in place as a vital service to the local community.

Manly Branch President Natasha Phillips-Mason, who ran for state election against Liberal MP James Griffin in 2019, said Mr Pigram was a family man from Manly.

“He has a passion for addressing climate change, including at a local level, and is a strong supporter of the Manly Dam,” she said.

Meanwhile, overdevelopment, planning, rates, Manly Dam, Narrabeen Lagoon, stormwater management, and The Waves youth club will be the issues Mr Clifford will be campaigning on.

As part of his work in the Surf Life Saving community, is has been involved in the pioneering unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drone patrols at Newport and North Curl Curl.

Harbord Branch President Peter Rafferty described Mr Clifford as “fresh” and having “progressive perspectives, which members believe will help drive a positive change across the northern beaches”.

“Mr Clifford’s work focuses on high risk safety critical industries of transport and health care, and improving accessibility and wellbeing in public systems,” he said.

“This expert view will be a great benefit to the people of Curl Curl ward, and all of the Beaches.”

Mr Rafferty said he would be running in the number two position for Labor in Curl Curl Ward.

Former Labor candidate for Mackellar Rhonda Funnell.

It is understood the remaining positions on both the Curl Curl and Manly tickets are being voted on in the first week of August at the Branch Meetings.

It is understood there is a contest between experienced campaigners of Carolyn Howells, Jaden Harris, and Rhonda Funnell, who has previously run for the federal seat of Mackellar, but also local ALP community member Bill d’Anthes.