Central Ward

• Name: Caitlin Spiller, The Greens
• Area: Lived in Lemon Tree Passage for 14 years
• Why standing: Be an advocate for community in areas of social services and the environment.
• Issues: We are facing a crucial time, socially - with increasing inequities and in coming back from COVID, and environmentally - with climate change and growth pressures. In short, I'm standing for more consultation, community safety and greater balance between community, growth and the environment.

• Name: Bill Doran, Independent
• Area: Lived in Tanilba Bay 7 years
• Why standing: To serve the community with integrity and be accountable.
• Issues: Roads - to improve the LGA's roads through the introduction of new technologies such as mechanical concrete and infrared patching. Rubbish - to increase the availability of public bins and do more with green waste and recyclables locally. Rates to find new income streams to offset councils' reliance on rates and grants.

• Name: Kelly Hammond, Labor Party
• Area: Lived in Anna Bay 18 years.
• Why standing: I'm over screaming for our fair share. Like many of the smaller towns in Port Stephens, Anna Bay deserves to be heard. We happily share our corner of paradise with tens of thousands of visitors each year, but basic infrastructure is needed desperately to support our locals.
• Issues: From Karuah and Swan Bay along the Tillery right through to my hometown of Anna Bay basic infrastructure is needed. I want to see roads improved; pathways built for our children to walk to school, green bins for those families who need one. I want a council that listens to the community and is committed in protecting our environment.

• Name: Jason Wells, Labor Party
• Area: Lived in Medowie for 16 years.
• Why standing: I am a school teacher, athletics administrator and an advocate for people living with disabilities. I am constantly running into issues with council infrastructure. Councillors should be there to listen to the community and help.
• Issues: Like many in our community I was shocked when council tried to implement a $690 rate rise against the community's wishes in 2019. We need elected representatives who will consult the community genuinely, to avoid poor decision-making like that. I am committed to delivering the biggest roads budget in Port Stephens history and improving accountability.

• Name: Chris Doohan, Independent
• Area: Lived in Medowie 20 years
• Why standing: To continue delivering on what I've started, and to give the people of the central ward a voice they can trust and believe in to make sure the central ward gets it's fair share. Delivery of great projects like the Medowie Social, 7-Day Makeovers in Anna Bay and Medowie, the massive amount of footpaths in Tanilba Bay, Lemon Tree Passage, Anna Bay & Medowie, the RFS stations in Tanilba Bay and Karuah, BMX tracks in Salt Ash, Playgrounds in Tanilba Bay, Anna Bay, Mallabula, and Lemon Tree, Road rehabilitation across the ward, Toilet Blocks in Karuah, Mallabula, and Medowie, Sports Ground upgrades across the ward and new facility buildings in Karuah Medowie and Tilligerry, skate parks in Anna Bay and Tilligerry.
• Issues: Roads, roads, roads and to continue more great projects across the ward similar to above. The initiation of Green Bins for excess green waste, more footpaths and sport facility improvements. A regional park for all to enjoy is high on my list also. Oh, and did I mention roads.

• Name: Steve Tucker, Independent
• Area: Tanilba Bay. Have lived in central ward 40 years.
• Why standing: Another term on council will enable me to finish longer-term projects and refocus council on roads and drainage. There is often a long lead time on projects. To succeed, planning, obtaining funding and persistence are key. For example, it took many years for Medowie Social, Robinson Reserve, Tilligerry Fire station and the Lemon Tree Boat Ramp and Pontoons to become realities. These are projects I had committed to over the long term. I'm sure all would agree that these were worth the effort.
• Issues: Main issues are upgrading and maintaining roads, drainage and community facilities. Trying to keep party politics out of council.

West Ward

• Name: Giacomo Arnott, Labor Party
• Area: West Ward - lived in Raymond Terrace whole life (27 years).
• Why standing: I first ran for election in 2017 because I was sick of the same people bringing our community into disrepute and putting the interests of developers above our community.
• Issues: Our team will deliver the largest roads budget in Port Stephens history. We will make sure councillor decision-making is transparent and that all councillors are accountable to the community. We will not pursue a special rate rise. We will introduce green bins and compost bins, protect our local environment, and engage in genuine, proper community consultation.

• Name: Danielle Le Mottee, Independent
• Area: West Ward - lived in Raymond Terrace whole life (18 years).
• Why standing: Ever since I can remember, I would go to meetings with dad (Paul Le Mottee) when he was the president of the Preschool and P&C Associations and when he was elected to council. I wanted to support him, now I am a lead candidate, and I am very grateful.
• Issues: My major policy is to be a true voice for youth, not just a young person that is a voice for a political party. My next policy is self-education and learning fast about the protocols and processes that involve being a councillor.

• Name: Peter Francis, Labor Party
• Area: West Ward - lived in Raymond Terrace for 21 years.
• Why standing: I have chosen to put myself forward because our council is ignoring the community and favouring developers over people. It's time for a change and I am very excited to be a part of that change.
• Issues: I stand for providing more support and respect to local community groups and better communication with our community. I am also a supporter of the proposal to introduce green bins, deliver an increased roads budget, ensure councillors are accountable and improve council transparency.

• Name: Andrew Cole, Independent
• Area: West Ward - Lived in Glen Oak 17 years
  
• Why standing: To highlight the needs of everyday people residing in the shire and look to take the area forward in a cohesive and transparent manner. Change is needed to move the community in a positive direction.
• Issues: Bring sensible measured fiscal management back along with no fuss common sense approach to all spending of rate payers money. Give more power to the community allowing them to vote on anything that effects them. Actively seek/identify needs based infrastructure including road upgrades and attract sustainable investment. Identify all needs-based services for the community such as affordable housing, transport, mental health and put in place a succession plan.

• Name: Christopher Baguley, Independent
• Area: Started working in Raymond Terrace in March 2012 and moved my family here in February 2013
• Why standing: I'm standing to be direct voice for the community, someone you can have a chat to in the street, raise issues with and know they will be actioned. I don't have any property outside our family home, so will not need to exclude myself from matters where a conflict of interest may apply. I believe in our community and want to help it become the best it can be.
• Issues: I will be working towards more events and expenditure in West Ward, more activities for our youth, action on our environmental goals, openness and transparency, and most importantly, community engagements and consultation. My first goal would be the reinstatement of questions to public access participants. A vote for me is a vote for true representation.

• Name: Peter Kafer, Independent
  
• Area: Have lived in Raymond Terrace for 21 years
• Why standing: I am standing because so many people have come to me over last several years and said they wanted to see me back in council standing up for our community and getting a focus back onto issues in the west ward.
  
• Issues: My team, which includes well known and respected Raymond Terrace solicitor Lea Smith and law student Reyna Smith, are concerned about roads, rates and rubbish. The are are our major focus points but we also want to focus on issues of public safety, mental health, assisting people with disabilities, homelessness, protecting the koala population in Port Stephens, and reviewing building block sizes in light of COVID.
  

East ward

• Name: Glen Dunkley, Independent
  
• Area: Lived in Nelson Bay 41 years
• Why standing: To build on the great work the current council has achieved and deliver on what the community wants. I am passionate about ensuring a safe and prosperous future for our children and grandchildren while providing a great place for all of us to live. I enjoy helping the community and ensuring a fair go for everyone, by being on council I can truly influence and lead to ensure that this continues to happen across Port Stephens. Through my various volunteer roles in the Port Stephens community, I have seen what great things can be achieved when the community and council work together and I want to continue to build those partnerships.
• Issues: Continuing to deliver record infrastructure spend to enhance our area including pathways and roads to create accessibility for all. Build new and improve existing infrastructure such as sporting facilities, parks, playgrounds and town centres that creates our sense of community and belonging. Bring people together with events and a night time economy. Continue to support our environment through sustainable growth strategies, protecting our precious flora and fauna and amazing waterways that we all love so much Building the future working with community groups and business to create opportunities not only for young people but that that want to have a go today.

• Name: Roz Armstrong, Labor Party
• Area: Lived in Soldiers Point for 35 years
• Why standing: The value of community is central to my life. My decision to stand reflects this and the current council's disregard for proper consultation with the community around things like the environment, traffic management and developments on sensitive land. Council needs a change in leadership so I'm supporting Leah Anderson's mayoral campaign as part of her east ward team.
• Issues: I support our team's commitments to deliver improved infrastructure, transparency, accountability and the promise to deliver green bins. I will fight hard to ensure council climate policy, reflects best practice when it comes to managing all pollution and climate related events like coastal erosion and bushfires which impact families lives. I will work to ensure the Tomaree Peninsula's greatest asset, the environment and wildlife, its habitat, marine and land is not decimated.

• Name: Matthew Bailey, Liberal Party
  
• Area: Have lived in Corlette 2 years and east ward 5 years
  
• Why standing: As a father of two, I'm putting up my hand to push for improved parks, playgrounds, roads and sporting facilities in East Ward. Since becoming a parent, I look at things differently and want to play my part in improving community facilities to make our area a better place to raise our families.
  
• Issues: I'm particularly focused on supporting small businesses in Port Stephens. I'm also passionate about the environment and want to ensure Port Stephens Council has a voice at the table to help protect our pristine waterways and natural habitats
  

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