DUKE of Kent publican Jack Egan has mounted a campaign to ease Wagga’s parking paralysis and bring tourism to town.
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The Daily Advertiser asks Mr Egan whether he’s the right man for the job and what he intends to do for residents if elected on September 10.
Does being a publican give you a unique insight into the community's concerns?
I hear what's going on around the town and what's happening on the street.
We get a complete cross-section of ratepayers come through the doors from young families, to retirees, tradesmen and business people.
I talk to anybody and everybody that comes in, which gives me a pretty fair gauge of what people want from council.
Are you campaigning so strongly on parking because it will help your own Fitzmaurice Street business?
I'm campaigning strongly on fixing Wagga’s parking because it's a nightmare.
Council wanted to make Fitzmaurice Street the Lygon Street of Wagga, which would be fantastic if they had parking to cater for diners.
What are the biggest issues Wagga faces?
I can't see why we don’t have angled parking on Fitzmaurice Street.
It’s nice to have a nature strip with lawn and lighting but it needs to be one-metre wide, we need to move the bike lane to Trail Street and we need a carpark behind the ABC studios.
Also, tourism needs to be pumped up.
Deni has the ute muster, Parkes has Elvis and Tamworth has country music, but Wagga doesn’t have anything and we don’t get many tourists as a result.
Finally, we should put a stop to contractors being employed on weekends to do jobs like mow lawns.
We’re paying for ratepayer-owned machinery that’s not being used to full effect.
You're running with one of the more outspoken councillors, will you be beholden to Paul Funnell?
Paul's an honest fella, a good bloke and someone who gets things done.
But he won't call the shots for me; I was on Leeton council for eight years and I didn't get into bed with anyone.
You're quite opinionated and outspoken, can you work in a team of councillors?
Very much so, if someone puts a good idea on the table, I'll give them a vote if I like them or not.
I’m not like a federal politician who doesn’t act on a good idea because someone else thought of it, I will assess everything on its merits.