Opening up about his own political ambitions, Cr Shaw said Tasmania’s local councils were full of “fresh, strong” leaders who would make prime candidates for state politics.

“The local government landscape has changed a lot over the past five years and you’re seeing a lot of busy family people, business people coming through,” Cr Shaw, 37, said.

“We’ve got (Glenorchy mayor) Kristie Johnston and myself, (Kingborough mayor) Dean Winter and (Huon Valley mayor) Bec Enders really changing the face of local government in Tasmania.

“We’re trying to make local government what it should be, making it more efficient and really serving the community,” he said.

“Any number of those local government leaders could take the next step and refresh the parliament – if that’s what they want.”

Cr Shaw, who has been a controversial figure in the valley since taking the helm two years ago, confirmed rumours that he is considering a tilt at state parliament.

However, he is yet to decide whether to run against sitting MLC Craig Farrell in next year’s election for the upper house seat of Derwent, or whether to hold out for the state election, due no later than March 2022.

“I didn’t enter local government for a political career, but, now I’m here I feel I’m pretty good at representing the community and I really enjoy it,” Cr Shaw said.

He has had “informal conversations” with both major parties and even the Nationals, he said.

While considering himself an independent at heart, Cr Shaw said he realistically needed the financial backing of a party.

“I’m saying (to the parties) ‘Be prepared because I’m not someone who just toes the line’,” he said.

“I’ve never been a member of a political party. If it was up to me I’d probably be an independent, but it’s just not realistic. I have a mortgage, two children, I’m not backed by a union. You kind of have to pick a side.”

Born and raised in New Norfolk, where he coaches his daughter’s basketball team and is heavily involved in all sports, Cr Shaw said he leant to the “more moderate” side of politics.

“I grew up in a housing department area in a single parent family, left school after year 10. I feel a sense of pride that I’ve worked hard and gone to senior roles in the private sector on the back of some hard work,” he said.

While he is far from a universally loved figure in his hometown and initially put council staff and some ratepayers off-side with his outspokenness and behaviour, Cr Shaw said those early hiccups had made him a better leader.

“Everything I feel I’ve done I think I’ve done for the right reasons, but maybe not the right way. I never aspired to be a politician and I’ve had to learn really quickly,” he said.

Currently vice president of the Local Government Association of Tasmania, Cr Shaw also made an unsuccessful bid for the same position with the national LGA.

He believes the debate over council mergers in Tasmania should focus less on whether there are too many elected members and more on the number of senior executives.

“It’s not your elected members that are your cost burden, it’s your general managers and executives,” he said.

“I think we have to make it a conversation about reform and resource sharing. We don’t have too many representatives, but we are over-governed in management in a lot of councils.”

While the Legislative Council is seen as a natural progression for former mayors, Cr Shaw admitted he could see himself in a “more community facing” lower house role, preferably holding a ministerial portfolio or two.

“Local government is a perfect training ground (for parliament),” he said.

“We’re already ready for the cut and thrust of public debate, we live in our communities and I think that connection, that ability to read the room, is something that is sometimes missed in state and federal politics.

“Both sides of politics would be crazy not to look at local government for candidates,” Mr Shaw said.

WHO ELSE HAS EYES ON STATE POLITICS?

LOCAL council personalities are expected to be a major feature of Tasmania’s next state election campaign, although most are keeping mum on their plans for now.

Speaking candidly of his own ambitions, Derwent Valley mayor Ben Shaw said all political parties in Tasmania “would be crazy not to look to local government” for potential candidates.

While remaining tight-lipped in comparison, Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston gave the strongest hint yet that she might be ready to run for parliament at the next state election, saying Tasmanians wanted change.

“People are overwhelmingly telling me they are unhappy with the current state of politics and the performance of their politicians,” Cr Johnston said.

“They want politicians who put the community interest before party political interests. They want politicians who will improve the lives of everyone in our community by bringing passenger rail to Hobart, providing affordable housing, better health services, and improved educational outcomes. It’s not rocket science. I love serving the people in my community and I will advocate for them in any way I can.”

Brighton councillor Jess Whelan, who ran as an independent at last year’s federal election after quitting as a Liberal candidate, said she no longer harboured a desire to run federally, but would consider a tilt at state parliament.

“For now I’m quite content focusing on my community in Brighton. It’s quite an exciting time for the council,” said Cr Whelan, who is an active Liberal party member.

Huon Valley mayor Bec Enders did not respond to a request for comment and nor did Kingborough mayor and former Labor candidate Dean Winter.

While not agreeing with their politics, Cr Shaw also singled out Liberals Simon Behrakis in Hobart and Brendan Blomeley in Clarence as fellow councillors who would likely serve their communities well at a higher level.

Cr Behrakis confirmed he was “giving serious thought” to another tilt at state politics, but his current focus remained firmly on the council, while Cr Blomeley similarly said that “at this stage” he was “100 per cent focused on working hard to serve the people of Clarence”.

Election analyst Kevin Bonham agreed with Cr Shaw’s view that it was difficult for councillors with higher political ambitions to secure a lower house win without a party affiliation.

“Since the house was reduced to 25 seats, nobody has won as an independent,” Mr Bonham said.

“Andrew Wilkie nearly did once, but it seems to be very difficult. You have to be a very high profile candidate to have a chance.”

He said it was not unusual for potential future candidates like Cr Shaw to effectively shop around for a party to attach to.

“Political identity in Tasmania is pretty fluid,” Mr Bonham said.

“You can decide to fit that independent local government background into a Liberal personality or a Labor personality and either might be suitable.”

sally.glaetzer@news.com.au