A FRESH start is the only way Brimbank can move forward at the October elections, according to a Cairnlea resident throwing his hat into the ring.
Billy Latkas said he was amazed to hear that former councillors, sacked in 2009, were considering standing for election.
While sorry for those not directly involved in any wrongdoing, he feels their return would be a mistake for Brimbank.
“I read the report and its findings into allegations brought against the council and I was truly disheartened with what I was reading,” he said.
Mr Latkas began campaigning as an independent for the state seat of Derrimut in 2009 but withdrew for family reasons.
He now wants to run for council, and he’s encouraging other residents with the area’s interests at heart to step forward.
“Whether or not I lose, it is important for people to have an independent voice in there on the council,” he said.
Mr Latkas said he had lived in the western suburbs all his life and was concerned by the level of neglect he believed had plagued the area at all levels of government.
He wants to see stronger commitment to the area and expects this would create a greater sense of community pride.
“[That pride] is overlooked and has been overlooked for far too long. This is a chance to have a clean start and to strike while the iron is hot.”
Mr Latkas said party politics shouldn’t be played out at the expense of Brimbank people and it was up to the public to take a stand.
