A blueberry farmer from Woolgoolga and former deputy mayor of Coffs Harbour, John Arkan is considering contesting this year's federal election as an independent.
The first Sikh councillor of Australia, Cr Arkan said people were not happy with the local representation, especially in health and education.
"We get a lot of baby-boomers here but are there systems in place for the increase in population," he asked.
Source: SBS
"You have to be passionate about your country to run for a Federal seat."
"With the fact that Cowper has been sitting there as a safe seat for such a long time, I think that needs to be challenged and I think I'm going to do it," he told the ABC. He also spoke to SBS Punjabi on Thursday, April 7. Here's the interview;
He said it is an emotional decision to make as his grandfather had come to Northern Rivers in 1890, and the area is now in the seat of Page.
He said he would decide very soon if he would contest the election, and if it would be in Cower or in Page.
Source: Facebook
He said the incumbent MP from the seat hadn't been doing too well in Parliament.
Cr Arkan said running as an independent meant he would be driven by the voice of voters rather than behind-the-scenes party forces.
"It's not just about challenging the person; it's about the role an independent can play, and it's about looking at the policies," he said.
"We're not going to invent new ones. Federal issues are the way they are but I just don't think in regional areas we're not addressing them.
"Couple that with the way people feel in general about politics, they've just sort of been mucked around a lot."
