FORMER Mildura Rural City Council deputy mayor Helen Healy has called upon voters to consider thoughtful, engaged and attentive candidates for the coming four year municipal term.
Eager to continue her time in the chamber, Cr Healy is contesting Henderson Park Ward, where she lives, works, raised her children, and spends most of her time in.
Twice nominated at the Australian Event Manager of the Year, Cr Healy said it was important the next elected group of councillors pushed for the municipality to thrive economically, socially, and culturally.
“I am just very focused on politics being about people, not about power,” Cr Healy said.
“I can be a conduit to power when people are having issues with council and they’re not being resolved
“I talk to people directly involved and I do my research and I do a lot of reading and background, I ring the council staff to clarify particular issues, I talk with other councillors particularly those with more experience than me in a particular area.
“I go in asking the tough questions and I’m always a part of the debate.”
Having spent the last five years on council after being first elected on countback during the 2016-2020 term, Cr Healy referenced several motions she had introduced that created change, including a push get Mildura’s affordable and social housing stakeholders to work together.
“It’s really exciting to be around that table seeing 10-15 (housing) groups working together,” she said.
“Social and affordable housing is really important, particularly for young families trying to get into the market.
“We need to work more closely with developers when they are looking at a subdivision, we need to ensure there is a good mix there of affordability.”
Another motion she had endorsed in the current term was to improve council’s community engagement process.
Both social housing and ensuring authentic community engagement remain priority issues for Cr Healy.
“My style of leadership is about empowering people, I want to see a council that’s very committed to creating opportunities for everybody to enjoy success, and that would be through our decision making and community consultation,” she said.
“I want to see our community engagement become more authentic and more real, reliable and data driven instead of vested interests monopolising or hijacking an issue.”
She said she was also passionate about rate reform, and if elected, she was eager to join other councillors in lobbying State and Federal government for change.
“A man that did a socioeconomic impact review of the region many years ago said that we are only as strong as our weakest link, and that drives all my work,” Cr Healy said.
“The last five years have shown that I have high values and a sense of integrity and I’m not afraid of standing up for my values.
“I’m all about people, that’s why I’m here.”
