Cr sees Green ‘ambush

THE candidates for the Ballina Shire Council election have been finalised, and long-serving councillor Keith Johnson sees a "Green ambush".

The Greens have three candidates in each ward, with one, Cr Jeff Johnson, also standing for mayor.

It is believed that Cr Jeff Johnson, at the 2008 election, was the first candidate to stand for election to Ballina council under the banner of a political party. This year, there also is a Country Labor candidate.

Back in 2008, Cr Keith Johnson, who once stood for election for the Federal Seat of Richmond as a Liberal candidate, was critical of party politics coming into local government.

He has been on council for a total of 20 years, over a period of 28 years.

He said the number of Greens candidates for the September 8 election was "an attempt at a takeover".

But he said The Greens have "made a mess of things" in other councils, pointing particularly to the financial difficulties of Byron Shire.

"Political parties have no role in local government," he said.

"We are a creature of the State Government, and follow their enactments - local government does not legislate. No matter which way you look at it, it's (council) an administrative body."

Cr Jeff Johnson said there definitely was "no ambush" and no attempt at a takeover.

The Greens are running as a group in each ward, but that move, he said, was made as the Ballina Greens expected other groups to also run, as is common in Lismore and Byron Bay.

He said local government is becoming much more complex, and being in a political party offers lots of connections for advice at both the local level, and within other levels of governments.

He said The Greens have their policies on their website, and challenged other "so-called" independent candidates to show their policies.

And the candidates are...

MAYOR CANDIDATES

Sharon Cadwallader, Independent,

Jeff Johnson, The Greens,

Keith Williams, Independent,

Ben Smith, Independent,

David Wright, Independent,

Sue Meehan, Independent.

A WARD

Tony Gilding, The Greens,

Lee Andresen, The Greens,

Robyn Sparks, The Greens,

Stephen McCarthy, Independent,

Robyn Hordern, Independent,

Kieran Drabsch, Country Labor,

Ken Johnston, Independent,

Sue Meehan, Independent,

David Robinson, Independent,

Ross Pickering, Independent.

B WARD

Jeff Johnson, The Greens,

Amelia Hicks, The Greens,

Neil Denison, The Greens,

Phil Meehan, Independent,

Keith Williams, Independent,

Kiri Dicker, Independent,

Sharon Cadwallader, Independent.

C WARD

Effie Ablett, The Greens,

Maureen McDermott, The Greens,

Leyla Roberts, The Greens,

Ben Smith, Independent,

David Wright, Independent,

Keith Johnson, Independent,

Paul Worth, Independent.