Record number of female candidates to contest 2017 Bunbury council election

Three of the 12 female candidates joined mayoral candidate Betty McCleary at the Plant Cafe on Saturday morning to meet with community members for a better look at the City’s needs going forward. 

Current councillor Wendy Giles told the Mail she has learned a lot during her first term and would hope to earn a second term on council to further advocate for progress. 

“Sometimes it is the little things that council do that can have a big impact and we are proudest of,” she said. 

“For example, I successfully convinced my fellow councillors to support funding in each budget for new footpaths – not just money to repair the ones we already have.

“It’s the job of council to advocate for the whole community, not just portions of it and to decide what is best for everyone. My background as an academic helps me to make decisions with this bigger picture in mind.” 

First time candidate Jodi Larke said she had been thinking about running for council for a few years and said she had been inspired by a number of great ideas the community has presented in recent times. 

“Bunbury has all the ingredients to be a truly wonderful City and as a councillor you can help to remove the barriers to allow some of these fresh ideas to flourish,” she said. 

“I’m passionate about local government bringing people together to make a Bunbury a healthy place for everybody to live and my environmental interests drive my desire to see council embrace renewable energy.”

Fellow candidate Joan Jenkins has a strong environmental focus and a desire to help position Bunbury well for future generations. 

“As a trained climate scientist I want local project planning to embrace our beautiful natural elements with a focus on the kind of future we are building for the City’s youth,” she said. 

The trio of council candidates said they were also excited to see Betty McCleary making a bid to become Bunbury’s first female Mayor. 

Mrs McCleary said she was excited by the opportunity to vye for the City’s top role and believed she has what it takes to be a strong leader going forward. 

“People need to be proud of their Mayor and I believe I’m the right fit – someone who can connect and communicate with the community while working with the City’s staff to produce positive outcomes,” she said. 

“It is important a Mayor listens to the voices of the individuals, is genuine about inclusiveness and is committed to making things happen.”

For a full list of candidates contesting the 2017 City of Bunbury elections, click here.