CLP candidate Kathy Ganley in bizarre doorway debacle with business owner

CLP candidate Kathy Ganley has had another bizarre exchange with a local, this time drawing the ire of a business owner

Conni Ditto of Uzuri Hair, adjacent to where Kathy Ganley has been campaigning, says she has found the political candidate's lack of spatial awareness very amusing, but slightly concerning.

PESKY politicians vying for votes could be scaring off CBD shoppers.

With the battle for Solomon entering the final stretch, political contestants are scraping and clawing for every advantage, and every inch of campaigning space, as they hand out pamphlets at the front of shops in the CBD.

This campaigner for Kathy Ganley couldn't have done much more to obstruct the entrance to her CBD business, Uzuri Hair. Picture: Supplied

Business owner Conni Ditto, whose hair salon Uzuri Hair sits opposite the Mitchell St voting station, said the frenzy for votes was hurting trade.

“The past few weeks have been a lot quieter than usual for this time of year because a lot of potential walk-ins have been frightened off,” she said.

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Ms Ditto said her main concern was keeping CLP candidate for Solomon Kathy Ganley out of her doorway.

“(Ms Ganley) tried to set up her A-frame directly in front of my shop,” Ms Ditto said.

Photos from inside the shop show Ms Ganley’s political volunteers’ backs virtually pressing against her shop door. Picture: Supplied

“She did move it away when asked, but then five minutes later she was back with two others and stood in front of my door blocking the path to the entrance of the business completely. You actually couldn’t open the door.”

Photos inside the shop show Ms Ganley and political volunteers’ backs pressing against the shop door.

Ms Ditto said Ms Ganley’s lack of spatial awareness lacked “common sense” and wondered if the behaviour ran contrary to her pro-business message.

“I was just a little concerned with the fact she’s supposed to be here helping business owners — how exactly is she doing that by blocking passage to customers?” Ms Ditto said.

“It seems a little funny that her whole platform is promoting business in the Territory, but then she’s blocking them.

“Most small businesses at the moment feel like they aren’t being heard, now we feel like we aren’t being seen.”

But Ms Ditto is keeping upbeat as the election day draws closer.

Her salon by the Darwin Entertainment Centre will be turning out chic and crazy hairstyles on election day for the Bass In The Grass festival when the voting centre will be teeming with people.

“We’re expecting a huge amount of people,” she said.

Ms Ganley did not respond to requests for comment.