Traffic, health and planning the issues that will decide Pembroke by-election

THE campaign for the Legislative Council seat of Pembroke been personal but the issues for voters look familiar.

THE issues facing voters might finally trump the personal attacks when the upper house seat of Pembroke is decided on Saturday.

In a campaign marred by social media slurs and breaches of electoral rules, voters will get the final say on which of seven candidates has best addressed their concerns.

The sparring has largely been between Liberal HQ and Liberal-turned-independent Clarence mayor Doug Chipman.

MORE: LIBS UNAPOLOGETIC OVER AGE ATTACK

EDITORIAL: FOCUS ON THE REAL ISSUES

Liberal candidate James Walker was forced to distance himself from messaging that targeted 71-year-old Alderman Chipman’s age.

Mr Walker, who had claimed he did not endorse the attacks, told the Mercury he had cleared the air with Liberal state director Sam McQuestin.

MORE: CAMPAIGN TURNS ‘NASTY AND PERSONAL’

“Sam well and truly understands my point of view on that matter and understands that it could have been handled much better,” he said.

Several of his own campaign signs were vandalised, and even burned, Mr Walker said.

A boil-water alert at Risdon Vale this week played into the issue of the TasWater takeover, which Ald Chipman had vigorously opposed as president of the Local Government Association.

Liberal material had already selectively quoted Ald Chipman, making it appear as if he believed the takeover would lower prices.

“It’s really disappointing and it’s symptomatic of the inter-party politics that’s dominating the debate these days,” he said.

MORE: LIBS RAPPED OVER KNUCKLES FOR USE OF CHIPMAN’S IMAGE

Independent candidate Doug Chipman.

Liberal candidate James Walker.

Dodging the crossfire has been Labor candidate Joanna Siejka, who managed to assemble a small army of volunteers to doorknock 7000 voters, a tactic that has delivered the ALP two Legislative Council seats in recent years.

“As a local resident myself, I want more than that from my own elected members,” Ms Siejka said.

Labor candidate Joanna Siejka.

“From what I’ve heard on the doors, people want positive, solution-focused representatives.”

In a campaign considered by some a referendum on the Hodgman Government, the issues depend on which candidate you talk to.

Mr Walker says it’s TasWater and ferry transport. Mr Chipman says they haven’t been raised with him.

The mayor says health, traffic and his independence from party politics are the major concerns.

Ms Siejka agrees on health, but adds housing affordability, education, jobs and planning decisions such as the Kangaroo Bay development.

The candidates will begin a final push on Friday but are reluctant to make predictions on the result — except to say it will be close.

“I expect this to go through to a preference count on Sunday,” Mr Chipman said.