LOCAL businesspeople and former by-election candidates have registered interest in running for September's council elections in Gunnedah, while Werris Creek residents have shown great enthusiasm in the Liverpool Plains.
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Local government election information sessions took place in Quirindi, Werris Creek, Spring Ridge and Gunnedah last week, with the purpose to inform people about what it takes to be part of a council.
The Gunnedah meeting attracted the likes of former New England Greens candidate Peter Wills and local business owner Wendy Marsh.
Mr Wills confirmed his interest, but is yet to make an official statement as to whether he will be running.
Another noteworthy point from that meeting was the number of women considering putting their hand up for council.
Current Gunnedah Shire councillor and vice-president of the Australian Local Government Women's Association, Coleen Fuller, said she is expecting to see strong representation heading into September's vote.
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"Everyone plays their cards close to their chest a lot, but I reckon I could see probably three women extra that would run."
In Quirindi, only four people showed interest in entering local government, but there were more than double that in Werris Creek.
Ten residents, all of whom showed genuine interest, attended the session and Jenny Dowell OAM, who facilitated the meetings, said it was intriguing to see how towns within the same local government area (LGA) viewed the efforts of the current council.
"A lot of the discussion comes up in some meetings about equity within council areas, about an understanding of how decisions are made across the LGA," she said.
"So there was a lot of interest on a very cold morning in a very cold hall in Werris Creek."
Some of the most common questions asked at the session were in regards to time commitments, with people trying to scope out how much effort is required to be a councillor.
Nominations to be a councillor end on July 26, and the vote will take place on September 4.
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