Athina Pascoe-Bell says Palmerston has had ‘significant improvement’ under her leadership

The mayor of Palmerston is selling an electoral message that the city has taken a better shape under her reign.

MAYOR Athina Pascoe-Bell is selling an electoral message that Palmerston has taken a better shape under her reign.

The mum of two is running in a race of three candidates against Ryan Pettifer and Raj Samson Rajwin ahead of NT council elections on Saturday.

The incumbent mayoral candidate believes that the City has “undergone significant improvement” while she has taken charge of council.

Strong governance, better service delivery and finding a more efficient way to reduce costs to ratepayers were her proudest achievements.

“I am a strategic thinker and I plan ahead for all aspects of council, including financial and environmental sustainability, planning for future growth and the community, and now that council has the basics of local government functioning well, it is time to focus on economic development in the Palmerston region,” she said.

Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell. Picture: Che Chorley

Ms Pascoe-Bell also wants Palmerston to now feature “strongly” as an economic hub over the next four years by leveraging off Territory, Commonwealth and private-sector initiatives to benefit high-speed internet connectivity, defence capabilities, the agricultural and aquaculture sectors to make the growing city a “central focus for business and economic growth”.

“We support economic development by making Palmerston the best place to live in the Northern Territory for families to live. If families are happy then the workers who underpin economic growth will be happy,” she said.

Ryan Pettifer will be standing on a blue-collar platform to win the mayoral election.

The electrician believes in a city of tradies he represents “every man of Palmerston”. “Palmerston becomes a place for proud people,” he said. “A town that’s young, that’s bright. We work, we fight.”

That fight also comes with greater accountability including breaking inaction on “itinerants” drinking alcohol at Goyder Square and cracking down on youth crime.

He will break the “inaction of the CBD economy”.

“I will be seeking answers and advice from every person on the council payroll. I will be coming with pizza and leaving with results,” he said.

Raj Samson Rajwin.

Raj Samson Rajwin, who plans to build a Palmerston medical centre, wants to have “a safe liveable, vibrant, sustainable and a family friendly city of diversity, culture and of high moral values”.

Those steps extend to cleaning the suburbs, better street lighting and cameras to reduce the crime rate while having libraries used for various engagement programs.

Mr Rajwin promises to resign should he not fuifill his promises. “I will assume that people have better leader to look after them,” he said.