More candidates are putting up their hands to run for the seat of Ballina at next year’s state election.
Current Greens MP Tamara Smith has announced that she will not be contesting the 2027 state election.
Ballina Greens Councillor Kiri Dicker has announced that she will join Mandy Nolan and Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, in the preselection battle for the Greens to determine who will run.
Cr Dicker said that the future of the Richmond River is a key issue she would raise if she was selected by the Greens to represent them in the next state election.
‘In 12 years, the best we’ve managed on the Tuckean Swamp is clearing agricultural drains, despite knowing how damaging they are for river health,’ Cr Dicker wrote.
Cr Dicker said she wanted to ‘put a candidate from Ballina on the ballot,’ to make sure issues facing Ballina Shire were front and centre.
Current Byron Shire Councillor David Warth has also decided to run for the state election telling The Echo that, ‘I feel I can support our community better at state level’.
‘In my time in our area, and as a councillor, I have developed a comprehensive understanding of the needs of our community. I consider genuine community engagement and participation to be the cornerstone of local government and needs to be brought meaningfully into state and federal policy-making,’ he said.
‘As an independent candidate I am able to act without the constraints of party lines or ideology. I feel that I can represent a broad cross section of our community. I believe in being proactive. I am working on a flood mitigation project with a working group in the north of the Shire, Mullumbimby’s water supply from Lavertys Gap, an audit of coastal habitats, land tax reform, and the promotion of Byron Shire for its natural attractions.’
No Labor or Nationals so far
Neither Labor nor the Nationals have announced their candidate for the seat of Ballina. It is understood, but unconfirmed, that Kevin Loughrey is once again running but this time as a One Nation candidate. He has previously run in federal and state elections, and for Ballina Council as an independent but not been successful in any of those attempts.
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