As long-serving Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery retires from politics and a Liberal Party snafu resulted in no Liberal candidates being enrolled, the outcome of the 2024 Wollongong local government election is anyone’s guess.

Here’s a speed run of the lead candidates for each ward, their local government experience, and what they’d like to do if elected.

Ward 1

Ten candidates will compete for the four councillor spots available in Ward 1.

There are two independent candidates, and the Greens and Labor will field four candidates each.

Meet the people at the top of the ticket.

Jess Whittaker – The Greens

Jess is a paramedic and previously ran in the 2021 local government elections. She is a community representative on the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Plan Implementation Committee.

If elected, she wants to increase investment in footpaths, cycleways and pedestrian crossings, build dedicated youth spaces like skateparks and pump tracks, and revitalise the night-time economy with a position on the council for a Night-Time Mayor.

On Jess’s ticket are candidates Matin Cubby, Stephen Young and Kathryn Broadfoot.

To learn more about Jess and the other Greens members on her ticket, head to: https://www.illawarragreens.org.au/
Instagram – @jesswhitt.

Suzanne de Vive – independent

Suzanne is self-employed and the author of Power Suburbs: A Strategic Plan to Mitigate Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss with NO Large Wind Farms.

She does not have local government experience, but has run as a federal candidate for the Sustainable Australia Party, has a diploma in town planning and is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts in community planning.

If elected, she wants to see the Illawarra transition to solar power rather than wind energy, improved housing affordability and greater opportunities for stable employment.

To learn more about Suzanne, head to: powersuburbs.com.au or find her on Facebook: Suzanne de Vive – Independent for Mayor & Ward 1 – Wollongong 2024.

Richard Martin – Labor

Richard Martin is self-employed and has served as a councillor since 2021.

He is committed to continuing to listen to the community and working with its members to deliver the services, infrastructure and amenities that the area deserves.

Running on Richard’s ticket are candidates Dan Hayes, Karen Fairbairn and Iskra Spencer.

To learn more about Richard or the other candidates on his ticket, head to: Meet the Labor team — CR TANIA BROWN.

Ryan Morris – independent

Ryan Morris is a sole trader, and was previously a member of the Australian Special Forces.

He has not served in a political role previously, but as part of his earlier career was involved with policy decision-making processes.

If elected, he would like to review the current works program to identify whether there is scope to reallocate funds for the repair and maintenance of flooding and drainage, and review the Pensioners Rates Rebate for pensioners who have lived and paid rates in Wollongong for a minimum of 15 years and increase the rebate to reduce the cost of living.

Ryan would also investigate a change to the tree management plan, whereby any approved application to remove or trim a tree would require a donation to a local tree-planting not-for-profit organisation or the Wollongong Botanical Gardens.

To learn more about Ryan, head to: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564478611200

Ward 2

Ward 2 is the most competitive in this election, with 13 candidates vying for four seats.

Four of those are on the Labor ticket, with four representing the Greens, four with independent candidate Andrew Anthony and solo independent candidate James Caldwell.

Andrew Anthony – independent

Andrew is an information and communications technology consultant and was a councillor from 2004-2008.

If elected, he will advocate for sound planning practices to protect the escarpment, foreshores and green spaces from overdevelopment, strengthen the roles of neighbour forums and take the feedback and concerns of residents seriously in the decision-making process. He would also seek an open and transparent council with sound budgeting practices and a commitment to addressing ageing infrastructure and flood mitigation across the city.

Running with Anthony are Ryan Worthington, Kenneth Davis and Nerida Anthony.

For more information, head to: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewAnthonyWollongong https://andrewanthony.com/.

Tania Brown – Labor

Tania is a manager, and has served as a councillor since 2017 and as Deputy Lord Mayor for the past five years.

If elected, her focus will be on strict budget discipline to ensure ratepayer funds deliver essential services to the community, improving housing affordability and investing in local infrastructure such as footpaths, roads, playgrounds and flood mitigation.

Tania says her experience establishing a post-COVID economic recovery taskforce, a skills roundtable and various measures to promote affordable housing would be invaluable.

Tania’s ticket also includes David Brown, Thomas Quinn and Michael Valceski.

For more information, head to: taniabrown.org.

Or search Facebook for Cr Tania Brown.

Insta and Twitter: tanbrown1.

James Caldwell – independent

James is a finance manager and former small-business consultant who also volunteers with the P&C, sports clubs and fundraising groups.

He has previously stood for the Federal Senate as a candidate for the NSW Libertarian Party, but believes political parties have no place in local government.

If elected, he has two goals – to stop the progress of offshore wind farms and a zero per cent rate increase.

To learn more about James, head to: James Caldwell – Independent for Aspirational Australia.

Kit Docker – The Greens

Kit is a policy research assistant for Dr Amanda Cohn MP in NSW Parliament and a support worker for people with disabilities.

If elected, he wants to increase the affordable housing supply by placing fairer mandates on big property developers; increase and bring forward investments that improve accessibility for people living with mobility, including footpaths, pedestrian crossings and active transport solutions; and protect nature and wildlife by investing in initiatives that bring nature back into the city and suburbs.

The other candidates on Kit’s ticket are Harris Cheung, Ali Gerritsen and Theresa Huxtable.

To learn more about Kit, head to: https://www.illawarragreens.org.au/kit_docker_candidate_for_wollongong_city_council_ward_2

Find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitdockergreens/

Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KitforWollongongcitycouncil/.

Ward 3

Ward 3 has the fewest council contenders this election, with just eight candidates.

Four are running on the Labor ticket, four for the Greens.

Get to know the candidates heading up each ticket.

Ann Martin BM – Labor

Ann is an artist planner who worked in local government for more than 30 years in economic, social and cultural development. She has been elected as a Wollongong City Councillor for the past 12 years.

If elected, she would ensure the library at Warrawong for the southern suburbs is built; invest in the maintenance and construction of roads, footpaths and shared paths; and provide for and lobby the State and Federal governments for the funding and infrastructure required for southern suburbs communities, including flood mitigation works and works required around Lake Illawarra and the new communities in West Dapto.

The other candidates on Ann’s ticket are Linda Campbell, Tiana Myers and David Haden.

To learn more about Ann or the other candidates on her ticket, head to: Meet the Labor team — CR TANIA BROWN

Dr Deidre Stuart – The Greens

Deirdre is a university mathematics support tutor, community climate activist and TAFE visual arts student.

She has previously undertaken contract research work for various local governments in environmental science and engineering contexts, as an academic at QUT and later as a senior environmental scientist with Opus International Consultants.

If elected, she will advocate for improved climate resilience for the city, including improved stormwater function, shadier streets and community batteries; safer, cheaper homes and improved community connectivity via a free public bus service for southern suburb and better footpaths, cycleways and public transport services; and work towards a circular economy.

The three other candidates on her ticket are Jamie Dixon, Elena Martinez and George Takacs.

To learn more about Dr Stuart or the other candidates on her ticket, head to:

www.linkedin.com/in/deidre-stuart-a45b5339

Instagram: @deidrestuart_au2500

https://www.illawarragreens.org.au/

Instagram: @illawarra_greens

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IllawarraGreens/.