Wagga councillor Paul Funnell rallies business and tourism operators

Cr Funnell leads student Tina Gavel, publican Jack Egan, Wagga Boat Club commodore Mick Henderson and Scribbles cafe owner Denise Flack.

The irrigator warned public debt would outstrip the value of public assets within two years and claimed his group of past and present small business operators were best placed to reign in spending.

Cr Funnell pointed to the $700,000 council spends on parking rangers to recoup $900,000 from fines as the sort of “disguised unemployment welfare” that needed to stop.

The outspoken councillor was aware some considered his last term the “Paul Funnell war on everything”, but insisted his scrutiny “kept council in check”.

The second candidate on the ticket, Tina Gavel, has promised to spearhead a theft database for Wagga retailers to stamp out thieves, after falling victim to crime when she owned and ran her own shop in the city.

“A lot of shop owners don’t bother reporting shop theft to police,” Mrs Gavel said.

“Council should join forces with police and the business chamber to compile a database that shop owners can log on to and report crime, which would help identify target areas and peak times.”

Mrs Gavel downplayed the importance of gender diversity on council and didn’t want her sex to define her.

“I don’t want the fact I’m a woman to to cloud the ideas I have for the community.”

Duke of Kent publican Jack Egan said serving councillors had worn out their welcome and hoped for a complete reshuffle.

“All we get from council is just reviews on reviews and business strategies; it’s like a kindergarten,” Mr Egan said.

“Parking is holding the whole town back, tourists leave with a sour taste in their mouths because they’ve got a parking ticket and there’s no plans whatsoever for angled parking or a carpark.”

Mr Egan, whose pub’s profitability has been shackled by parking paralysis along Fitzmaurice Street, denied being solely motivated by his own bottom line.

“I hear from people all day, every day, people can’t get a park from one end of the street to the other,” he said.