I have long been a believer that you need to learn to follow before you can learn to lead. Hopefully I have lived that philosophy.

This means being able to listen. Whether it is providing local leadership by participating in the deliberations of Council or representing you in your dealing with Council I need to know what you believe the community needs.

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Once again, hopefully I have been a good listener. Of course, only you can testify whether I have or not.

I know I have made mistakes along the way. On occasion maybe I have not listened that well.

I am here to undertake that it will remain my objective to listen to you and to take your lead before representing you.

You will find in this “providing local leadership” series of blog posts that my focus is to lead the deliberations. To have no set position on any issue. In other words I am recognising there is usually more than one view point. That we need to consider all the viewpoints before coming to a decision on policy.

As you read through this series of blog posts I would appreciate your thoughts on the topics in question and others not mentioned. If you have thoughts I want to hear them. Happy to receive them before the election, or after. Seeking your views does not stop with the election.

In providing your views please relay them to me either by phoning me or by emailing me at [email protected]. Unfortunately Local Government Election legislation forbids me from displaying your thoughts digitally in the lead up to the election if they can be seen as designed to influence the result of an election.