A FORMER City of Wanneroo manager has joined the Joondalup mayoral race.
Connolly father-of-two Chris Morrison said he was “a passionate believer in an engaged community with a listening, caring and responding local government”.
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“I passionately believe in local democracy and how we can truly reflect our local community’s needs,” he said.
“I bring 25-plus years of experience driving efficiency and transparency across local governments in WA, nationally and internationally.”
Mr Morrison said he stopped working last October due to an operation on his spine but was “ready to take on a proactive community leadership role”.
“As my passion, experience, skills and interests are in effective local government, I have been watching with increasing frustration as the disconnect has grown between ratepayers and their councillors, which will inevitably lead to poor consequences for our communities into the future,” he said.
“With no vested connection to local businesses, developers or local organisations, I can be a truly independent mayor.”
He said some of his campaign points would include reducing wasteful spending to allow lower rates, increasing energy efficiency with better recycling systems and less waste, creating local apprenticeships and helping local businesses grow.
“I will be a new form of mayor who promotes councillors to openly discuss items and automatically represent the City at events in their wards,” he said.
“I should not be everywhere at once; it is a team approach.”
He said he would urge the State Government to “limit the negative environmental impact” as the Ocean Reef Marina moves to the development phase by “imposing the best environmental management practices on developers” and he did not support the Whitfords Nodes fitness staircase in a Bush Forever area.
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