Time for new blood on Council

JAYMES Diaz is most famous as the Liberal candidate who couldn’t detail the Coalition’s stopping the boats policy during the 2013 federal election. But he’s back and running for Blacktown Council.

Liberal candidate for Blacktown Council elections Ward 2 Jaymes Diaz. Photo: Adam Ward

• Jess Diaz dismisses plan to be Blacktown mayor
• Jaymes Diaz finally concedes defeat in Greenway
• Jaymes Diaz losing support from political allies in Greenway

JAYMES Diaz is not letting mistakes from his past determine the path for his future ambitions in politics.

Standing as the number one Liberal candidate for Ward 2 in the Blacktown City Council elections on September 10, the 40-year-old lawyer, spoke to the Rouse Hill Times in his first interview since he ran for the seat of Greenway in the 2013 Federal elections.

Mr Diaz is best known for his inability to detail the Coalition’s policy for stopping the boats as the Liberal candidate for Greenway during the lead-up to the 2013 federal election

“I have decided to get back into politics because I believe Blacktown deserves better representation as it has become stagnant,” Mr Diaz said.

“After what happened in the past I want to show my supporters that it is okay to fall, it is okay to make mistakes, but it is never okay to give up.

“The path to a goal is never easy. You have setbacks and you may fall along the way, but setbacks make you stronger.

“I have to show people I have the character, grit and determination to get myself back up and the ambition and drive to make a difference.”

The Blacktown resident dismissed rumours he is only standing to help his father Jess Diaz become mayor.

“The title of mayorship is not my dad’s intention,” Mr Diaz said. “It is far from why we are in this.

“He is not one to be the centre of attention. In fact at most events you would find him happily helping out in the background.”

Liberal candidate for Blacktown Council Ward 2 Jaymes Diaz wants to bring Blacktown Council into the 21st Century.

Mr Diaz said his main reason why he has put himself back into the political arena is to bring Blacktown Council into the 21st Century.

“We need better infrastructure in this area,’’ he said. “Parramatta has a modern CBD and a legal precinct and we have none of these things,” he said.

“Technically we are bigger than Parramatta, so we should have these services, but we need new modern and progressive people in council to fight for this.”

He thinks Blacktown Council is very reactive and needs to be more proactive when it comes to developing it into a modern CBD.

“For the past 30 years there has been plan after plan and consultation after consultation, but nothing has been done. Now is the time for a call for action,’’ he said.

Mr Diaz heads the Liberals candidates running for Ward 2 in the Blacktown local government elections, which also includes Rouse Hill resident and Graceland Early Education Centre director Joe Russo, plus Acacia Gardens resident Magdy Sekla.