Gerry Wood endorses independent candidate Beverley Ratahi for his Nelson seat

RURAL taxpayers looking to continue the independent legacy of the Nelson electorate, held by long-serving member Gerry Wood, have a new candidate to consider at the polling booths – Beverley Ratahi

Gerry Wood — who has held the seat of Nelson for nearly 20 years — is endorsing Beverley Ratahi, who will run as an Independent for the seat at the Territory election. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

RURAL taxpayers looking to continue the independent legacy of the Nelson electorate, held by long-serving member Gerry Wood, have a new candidate to consider at the polling booths – Beverley Ratahi.

Ms Ratahi has worked alongside rural students from Taminmin College and Bees Creek Primary School on school councils that have helped her understand the community.

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“My core values and beliefs are fairness, transparency and accountability, which are evident in my behaviours and the culture I strive to create in all the organisations I served,” she said. “These can’t be achieved without consultation and local decision making – I have never seen the best decisions for the rural area made in high-rise offices in Darwin.”

Mr Wood said he wanted the Nelson seat to remain independent.

“The rural area between Goyder and Nelson electorates have been held independently for quite a while. I’ve held this seat for nearly 20 years and it was held previously by Noel Padgham-Purich for a number of years who was also independent,” he said.

“It has a tradition of being independent, rural people don’t regard either party as being pro-rural.”

It’s why he is endorsing Ms Ratahi, who lives in the area.

“She’s been here quite a while, she was on the Bee’s Creek Primary School council and has moved up to Taminmin College where she has been on the school council for a number of years,” he said.

“She knows a lot of the local issues especially around education and she is a fierce person advocating to keep the rural area rural.”

He said Ms Ratahi’s fierce personality and background with Border Force could also help the electorate and the NT in adapting to the coronavirus recovery.

“She did work with Australian Border Force, which might bring some good knowledge regarding current issues around the coronavirus pandemic, but also she has an understanding of the public service,” he said.

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“She’d certainly know how to stand against people or other politicians who may be trying to pull the wool over our eyes. She can be pretty feisty but that may be a very good thing for the area.”

Ms Ratahi is running against CLP candidate Gerard Maley and Territory Alliance candidate Andrew Harley.