Wagga City councillor Paul Funnell has put his hand up to run as an independent candidate for the Wagga byelection.
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Mr Funnell's announcement on Friday morning ended weeks of speculation on whether Mr Funnell would become involved in the race.
He had previously refused to rule in or rule out nominating for a party or standing as an independent.
Mr Funnell now joins Labor candidate Dan Hayes as the second sitting Wagga councillor to contest the byelection on September 8.
Mr Funnell told The Daily Advertiser he was “in it to win”.
“The final decision (to run) came about because we need someone who has the people’s interests at heart, not a political party’s interests,” he said.
“That’s why I’m saying we have got to put people before politics.
“With the ALP, for 16 years they were in power and they completely ignored us, they did nothing.
“With the Liberal Party, we have been poorly represented for 20 years and now we have ended up in the situation with shameful circumstances for the byelection.”
Wagga MP Daryl Maguire resigned from Parliament this month following weeks of pressure to quit over damaging revelations at the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Mr Maguire first resigned from the Liberal Party three weeks ago, but faced calls to quit entirely over his attempt to profit from a Sydney property deal with a Canterbury councillor.
Mr Funnell said he would run on cost of living, energy prices, infrastructure and healthcare issues and accused the state government of not attempting to replace specialist hospital staff.
“We need critical infrastructure, not just here but at Tumut, for the timber industry,” he said.
“The road network needs upgrading. There are going to be an extra 20,000 to 30,000 people north of the river in the next 25 years so we need to hit the ground running now.
“We need the $35 million for the next stage for the Bomen freight hub (RIFL); we need $1.2m put into the greyhound race track; the hospital is underfunded, unfinished and understaffed.”
Mr Funnell said the Coalition “took away our democratic rights” with an agreement not to field a National Party candidate in Wagga.
“They did not consult the people. Once again they are dictating to us. It’s all city centric,” Mr Funnell said.
“The White Shoe Brigade out of Macquarie Street have turned around and told us what’s good for for us.”
Mr Funnell said he had not been inspired by the field of potential Liberal candidates due to stand for Wagga preselection on Saturday.
“I am not inspired or impressed by the field that the Liberals have put up,” he said.
“I have absolute respect for them as individuals, don’t get me wrong, just as I have respect for Dan Hayes from the ALP, but these people will just toe the party line.
“The people deserve more. We have been abandoned for years.”
Mr Funnell was first elected to Wagga Council in 2012 and has served continually since that date.