FORMER ALP candidate for the state seat of Kiama Glenn Kolomeitz has put his political career aside to become chief executive officer and state secretary of the NSW RSL.
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Mr Kolomeitz had been slated as a contender for preselection in the federal seat of Gilmore ahead of next year’s general election.
He confirmed on Friday he would not be standing.
“The RSL job by its very nature must be non-partisan,” Mr Kolomeitz said.
“I propose to engage vigorously with state and federal politicians of all persuasions.”
Mr Kolomeitz, a veteran of campaigns in East Timor and Afghanistan, met with the RSL state council a month ago and signed his contract at Anzac House in Sydney on Thursday.
“I outlined my strategic plan for the RSL to address a number of serious challenges it faces.
“Those challenges are a declining membership base, quite a disengaged younger veteran and defence community and a loss of market share in some areas that should be the league’s core business to veterans’ welfare organisations like Soldier On and Wounded Warriors.”
Mr Kolomeitz said he wanted to improve the community’s perception of the RSL and get the message out that the league was about much more than beer and pokies.
One of the key performance indicators he has set himself is to use social media to engage with younger veterans and serving defence personnel.
