THE race for the top seat on Wattle Range Council has begun with Wattle Range deputy mayor Rob Dycer announcing his mayoral intentions.
Cr Dycer is the first person to declare candidacy for the elected position, which will be vacated by two-term mayor Peter Gandolfi in November.
The Glencoe farmer said he was motivated to run as mayor to continue to make positive changes for the community.
“I have been deputy mayor for 12 out of 13 years I have been on council and I would like to run as mayor because I find it interesting, it is a challenge and it is a good way to deliver for your community,” he said.
“Once you have been on council for a long time, you know how things work so you are able to help people with their issues, whether it is getting a road fixed and things like that.
“I actually like helping people and am really happy to do that.”
The veretan councillor was first elected to a casual vacancy on Sorby Adams Ward in 2005 and was re-elected to the position at the general election the following year.
Cr Dycer’s community involvement spans close to six decades, including a 55-year long history with the Mid South East Football League.
As well as spending many years on the league’s executive committee, Cr Dycer served as president from 1997 to 2000.
He also served the football fraternity of the region as an investigation officer, umpires director and a 21 year career as an umpire.
Cr Dycer, who began his career as a dairy farmer before diversifying to beef and “a bit of lucerne”, said his community and employment experience had provided him with a breadth of knowledge across a number of issues.
He said he had been an ardent supporter of the smaller towns in the council area, including his hometown of Glencoe.
“I am a believer of everyone being able to get a piece of the pie,” he said.
“Just because you live in the little regional areas, it does not mean you should not get anything from council.
“I have pushed and made sure the smaller football, netball and tennis clubs get a few bob out of council, because without it they would not be around.
“There are a lot of people out in our smaller communities that pay a lot of rates.”
If successful in being elected as mayor, which is likely to be determined on November 10, Cr Dycer said he would seek to complete council’s larger legacy issues.
“I would like to make sure the Domain gets finished and make sure the boat ramp continues to operate,” he said.
“Finishing the Penola Bypass would be good and we have that pretty well nailed down as the state Liberals are going to fund the rest of it.
“The bypass has been going on for 60 years and nothing like that should take 60 years to do.
“I would like to make sure we continue to all work together and we all have a common goal so we can tackle whatever situation fronts us.
“I am a bit of a believer in common sense, so I would like to just get it done and get on with it.”
Cr Dycer’s bid for mayor will open up one of two vacant position in the Sorby Adams Ward, which encompasses the townships of Mount Burr, Kalangadoo, Glencoe and Nangwarry.
Nominations for all positions open on September 4 and close at noon on September 18.
Enrolled voters will receive ballots in the post in late October and close of voting is scheduled for November 9.
