Mr Funnell is promising to provide grassroots representation, after running as a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate in the 2013 federal election.

He resigned from the DLP presidency late last year to announce his independent campaign on Tuesday.

Mr Funnell believed running on his own ticket – as the only independent of the current five candidates – meant he wasn’t restricted by a party’s policies that didn’t affect the Wagga electorate.

“You need someone to represent the people,” he said.

“It’s about putting people before policies.

“People want hope, a vision and a plan.”

Mr Funnell, a 51-year-old irrigation farmer and hay contractor whose family has been in the Riverina for 130 years, promised debate on local issues.

He said an independent Wagga candidate would bring focus back to the city, rather than former governments that were largely Sydney-centric.

While Mr Funnell pointed to the university and TAFE as major draw cards to Wagga, limited jobs of choice post-study added to the rapid decentralisation of NSW’s largest inland city.

The outspoken candidate also declared his position on privatising state-owned electrical assets.

“I will not support the privatisation of public utilities," he said.

“Bureaucracy is out of control.

“The inmates are running the asylum.”

Water and agricultural concerns, health, tourism and infrastructure, such as the duplication of the Gobbagombalin Bridge to overcome bottlenecked traffic, will also be addressed in his campaign.

Mr Funnell said the city needed long-term planning to address state government cost-shifting.

“People need to wake up and realise these issues are affecting our community,” he said.

“We need someone to step up, shake the tree, put up a good fight and plan for decades to come to give people a choice.”

Mr Funnell will be forced to step down from his role as Wagga City councillor if elected.

“If time on council has proven anything, I don’t sit back,” he said.

The married father of four children aged 18 17, 16 and 14 promised to be all ears. 

“Vote for change, vote for vision,” he said.