The Daily Advertiser continues its series of questions and answers with council candidates.
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Anabel Williams tendered her resignation as Riverina MP Michael McCormack’s executive assistant to run for council.
The former Qantas flight attendant and Riverina Juvenile Justice Centre officer wants residents to vote below the line for “truly independent” nominees.
As someone who worked at the local juvenile justice centre, what do you think council needs to do about the youth crime scourge?
I would like to see council be 100 per cent responsible for a drop-in centre where PCYC and Anglicare refer marginalised youth.
When I worked in juvenile justice, I could get the most hardened kid to soften up by giving them a task and a sense of purpose, rather than continually chastising them.
Softly, softly programs, like chatting to kids about how their offending hurts people, don't resonate with them.
Community leaders could run career evenings with the likes of local smash repair owners coming down to talk about panel beating.
Given you worked for Nationals Riverina MP Michael McCormack for four years, are you truly an independent candidate?
I haven’t had any communication with the National Party since I was nominated for council.
I understand the perception of overlap and while I will renew my Nationals membership, I'm fiercely independent when it comes to council and will remain so.
How can council enforce your idea of fostering neighbourhoods where people send their kids next door for a cup of sugar?
It sounds corny and clichéd, but I think it’s very valuable to know who is in your neighbourhood, because it makes us stronger as a whole community.
Wagga was a small country town at one point and as we’ve grown to a city of 70,000, we’ve lost the sense of community.
Council can organise community days around neighbourhoods and get behind programs like Neighbourhood Watch.
What are the biggest issues facing Wagga?
Firstly, people lack confidence in council because there’s not enough transparency and communication.
People can’t name five councillors, which proves they don’t have enough presence and need to get out into the community more than attending official functions.
Secondly, you can’t pick up a newspaper in the Riverina without reports of break-ins or a crime spree and people are concerned about safety in Wagga.