SHALOM House founder Peter Lyndon-James has put his hat back in the ring and is pulling together a team for a tilt at becoming a City of Swan councillor.
Mr Lyndon-James has been locked in a court battle with the City over whether he can legally operate his rehabilitation centres in the Swan Valley.
He said his dealings with local authorities had been “extremely disheartening” over the past three years.
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READ NOW“I believe that common sense has gone out the window,” he said.
“We need to put it back on the table along with honesty, transparency, accountability and integrity.
“I would like to see a serious change in the way we deal with the issues that face our community.
“Sadly, the majority of the people I have dealt with have demonstrated they are in for it for their personal gain and only to place themselves in the positions of authority for their own interest, not for the interest of the community.
“There is an enormous lack of transparency and accountability around dealings of the council, including the heavy-handed, bordering on disrespectful, approach towards the ratepayers.
“As a ratepayer myself, that’s certainly how I feel, and I have heard from many others who carry the same sentiment.”
Mr Lyndon-James said it appeared local, State and Federal government representatives often forgot the reasons why they ran for election.
“The moment they are voted in, they forget about the people they called, emailed and on whose doors they knocked, asking for that vote,” he said.
“They forget about them until six months before the next election when it starts again.
“Everyone, from councillors to officers need to be reminded that they are public servants.
“They are here to serve the public, and the public is a ratepayer wanting to put a shed up in their backyard, needing an approval for a new pergola or wanting to set up an alfresco area at their coffee shop.
“It is not okay for the ratepayer to constantly be on the backburner, ignored and not acknowledged.”
Local government elections will be held on October 21, 2017.
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