Election no longer a one-horse race

OCTEC deputy CEO Stephen Nugent has announced he will run for The Greens on March 26.

In making the announcement, Mr Nugent, who contested the 2004 federal election and 2004 and 2008 Orange City Council elections, said he hoped to shake up what had previously looked like a one-horse race.

“I think we need more voices in the debate if we’re going to have a robust democracy,” he said.

“It seems no one expects Labor to win ... but we don’t seem to know anything about the Coalition, their policies and what they’re going to do if they win government.”

At least one more candidate is expected to announce they will contest the election in coming days.

Kevin Duffy is expected to be Labor’s candidate and there is speculation Reg Kidd will run as an independent and Fiona Rossiter for Family First.

None of the potential candidates would confirm or deny they would contest the seat when contacted by the Central Western Daily yesterday.

Mr Nugent said his campaign would focus on water security and increased finance for essential services, including health, education, roads and transport.

“More funding for roads is essential, but equally important is is public transport,” he said.

“We have a once-a-day XPT service out to Orange ... I’d personally like to see a service to and from Orange twice a day.”

Mr Nugent said his background in public service had served as good training for political life.

In addition to coordinating employment, training and youth services at OCTEC, he is a founder and past president of the Environmentally Concern Citizens of Orange, a member of the Environmental Learning Facility community garden group, and volunteer with Orange’s migrant mentoring program.

He’s married to Fiona Hawke and has two daughters Freya, 12, and Portia, 9.

Orange City Councillor Jeremy Buckingham is The Greens’ number three candidate for the Legislative Council.

“The key message that I’m telling people is that with Labor being thrown out in a likely landslide to the Coalition, it is really important the Coalition are held to account in the upper house,” Mr Buckingham said.

“We will stop the Coalition cutting services, privatising power and water and winding back environmental protections.”

lisa.cox@ruralpress.com