Former Kiama MP Matt Brown will return to the political fray, topping the Community and Labor ticket at the upcoming Kiama council election.
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Meanwhile, Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler said he remains undecided about whether he will contest the September 10 poll.
Mr Brown, president of the Kiama branch of the Labor Party said the endorsement to run a ticket was ratified at their meeting last Thursday night.
The Kiama resident will be heading up the Community and Labor ticket.
“I am talking to a number of potential candidates to formulate the ticket,” he said of those who would also run on the Labor ticket.
In 2008, then NSW Police Minister Mr Brown resigned after reports he had danced semi-naked on a couch and simulated sex with Wollongong MP Noreen Hay during a drunken party in Parliament House.
He resigned from state cabinet just three days after being sworn in as police minister.
Mr Brown was defeated by current Kiama MP Gareth Ward at the 2011 state election.
Regarding his decision to run for local government, Mr Brown said he was “very concerned that we were nearly forcibly merged”.
He wanted to help ensure Kiama remained a standalone council.
“I’ve been approached by the branch and a number of people in the community to lead the ticket,” he said.
“Hopefully I can get in there and represent the community of Kiama.”
Mr Brown also believed there was a need for new faces on the council.
“I do think they need that balanced approach that a Community and Labor ticket can provide,” he said.
“We’re opposed to over-development in the town.
“There are too many ugly boxes built, and built poorly.
“I want to see more events, conferences and arts in the town… to ensure our businesses remain viable.”
Meanwhile, Cr Petschler said he hadn’t made a final decision on whether he would run for council again, saying he was still discussing the matter with family.
The mayor said he was helping fellow Kiama councillor Mark Honey pull a team together to run for council.
“If I run, we’ll run together,” Cr Petschler said of Cr Honey.
“If not, Mark will probably lead the team and I’ll help him put together a program.”
Fellow councillor Neil Reilly will lead a ‘Community Voices’ ticket that is also comprised of David Connolly, Kim Elder, David Finlay and Tass Schmidt.
