Look at candidates’ qualifications

I empathise with Graham McGuinness (CCN 448) in that we need people with corporate experience to head our corporate-size Council.

But, naturally, democracy wins over in this case.

Imagine the outcry if anyone tried to impose an unelected Board of Directors on the Central Coast.

Our Council might be the most complained about in NSW, but that’s probably because we have the largest population of complainers.

Every edition of CCN features some group or other complaining about some issue close to their hearts.

But on the matter of the September election for councillors, I have previously “complained” myself about the lack of experience of our elected representatives.

The briefings that potential candidates are being given this time is a small step, but it does not address the basic lack of experience and skill required to make corporate level decisions.

So we live with the possibility of getting one-policy Independents with grand pronouncements of what they would do if elected, but who end up out of their depth and then become obstructions to the proper proceedings of debate.

Or some Labor or Liberal clones who just make up the numbers.

I am very pleased to see Corinne Lamont standing as an Independent.

Her qualifications are just what we need – she has had exposure at the highest levels of government in NSW, she is a former bank manager at a Martin Place bank, she runs a successful education technology export business and is used to leading staff and overseeing the daily balancing of large transactions.

She is also a successful property investor, has studied accounting and can find her way around financial reports and business plans – perfect!

I would love to see every potential candidate with a CV something like that.

Too many promote their warm and fuzzy visions, but never state what skills they can actually apply to their role in order that the council meetings achieve sensible, constructive outcomes.

The last lot were too often mired in internecine infighting or downright pig-headedness.

And why? – because few had skills to do the job.

Now I see Lawrie McKinna entering with a 15-candidate push for Council (CCN 449).

Reading his pitch in CCN promoting his team’s candidature, I am dismayed that it is all warm, fuzzy motherhood statements.

There is not one clue as to how he would go about solving the many issues he mentions or how they should be addressed.

And there is no indication what qualifications any of his team has to meet the corporate challenges of the job.

Sport celebrity and activism is not a reassuring qualification.

Corinne Lamont is standing in my electorate – she has my vote, and I pray others in her electorate can recognise quality, not just glitz and pie-in-the-sky proposals.

Email, Aug 1
Geoff Robertson, The Entrance