INDEPENDENT candidate Matthew Hogg got the ball rolling on his campaign yesterday with a launch function at the Botanic Gardens in Wagga.Almost 500 people attended the launch, showing their support with balloons and 'I'm behind the Hogg' T-shirts and enjoying a barbecue lunch.The launch revealed the way in which Mr Hogg planned to woo the voters of Riverina, with a theme based around a high level of community consultation and communication.Political signage invited people to 'Grill the Hogg' and a phone hotline, 1300 HOGG was also advertised with the key message being that Mr Hogg wants as much input as he can get from the community, from which he will build the framework of his policies leading in to the election.He said as much during his address.He stated his goal was "to create a unity of purpose across the Riverina in which as many as are willing will have direct input into the manner and form of their representation".He plans to do this by meeting with as many mayors and community members from across the Riverina as he can fit into the next few months, before he releases a policy platform in August or September."My role is to identify the issues and it's up to the people to give me their vote," Mr Hogg said."We'll know what they decide come election day."And although the Riverina is a National stronghold, Mr Hogg was full of confidence that people would be willing to change their vote to elect an Independent candidate.He said there had been several recent examples of seats that typically voted National ousting their representative in favour of an Independent."If history is anything to go by, strong confident Independent members can achieve enormous outcomes for their constituents," Mr Hogg said."And we can see the evidence of this in Peter Andren, who served the seat of Calare with distinction for 11 years before his death."Tony Windsor has similarly served the people of the electorate of New England since 2001 and Rob Oakeshott the people of the electorate of Lyne."All were Independents, all were regional seats and all were previously held by the National Party."