At last, a candidate that has “The Right Stuff”. I thought that I would have to drag myself to the “polls” while swaying through the constant barrage of good intentioned candidates who either don’t have the necessary skills and background to help develop our community, or who are either representatives or affiliated with a political party (or interest groups) who, as we all know, will push their own agenda.
However, with the announcement that returned serviceman and local businessman, Mr Keith Wilkinson will stand for Mayor and councillor, I now have some confidence that we finally have a candidate who has the leadership skills, strategic background, business experience and financial expertise to turn our council around and reinvigorate the Hastings.
Keith Wilkinson obviously has the strong leadership skills required to bring all the councillors together as a cohesive team, and the Financial and Strategic Planning skills to develop the Port Macquarie-Hastings area into a thriving economy – one that attracts business and industry, which in turn generates jobs, jobs, and more jobs and a prosperous future for our children.
It’s obvious in some of the positions he has held within private enterprise, and Federal and State Government (especially while in Iraq) he has shown he is a strong communicator and negotiator, and is someone who has the ability to work across Federal and State Governments as well as listen to our community.
I have a son in the military and his training and experience have helped him develop into a fine young man with honesty and integrity.
So, after the devastating effects of the “Yes Team” and then four years under administration, I must say it is very heartening to see that a candidate with “The Right Stuff” has chosen to stand for council. I think we could do far worse, but I doubt we could do any better than to have Keith as our Mayor.
The only thing that we can do now to ensure a better future for the Hastings is to ensure that he is elected so that he can get on with the difficult task of developing a safer and more prosperous future for our community and all its residents.
Brian Hancock
Port Macquarie
