TWO TO TANGO: Reg Kidd and John Davis one mayor to another.
Former mayor Reg Kidd believes current mayor John Davis has not given Orange councillors an equal opportunity to be involved in council functions, giving council a poor image in the community.
Cr Kidd said he would make himself available to all the community if he was made mayor again after September’s election but first has his sights firmly set on securing his spot on council.
“I think the image of Orange needs improving dramatically ... with politicians through to the community,” he said.
“There’s lots of functions where [Cr Davis] says he’ll turn up and he doesn’t.”
Cr Kidd said he sent an email out to all councillors every week when he was mayor inviting them to represent the council at functions.
As an outspoken critic of the group ticket system Cr Kidd will again run as an individual candidate below the line.
He criticised Cr Davis’s decision to field a ticket in the election despite calling for the system to be abolished earlier this year.
“It’s a double standard. People say one thing and do another.
“It’s a big call going out on your Pat Malone below the line.”
Cr Kidd wants council to return to better communication and engagement with the community and admits the fault lies with both councillors and staff.
“I want to see the council be more transparent and accountable for its actions and decisions,” he said.
“Council’s corporate governance can be improved and it must get away from party politics and factions.
Cr Kidd said he began a push for council to develop an integrated water management plan to look at water security for the city’s growth seven years ago and will now encourage council to raise the Suma Park Dam wall to increase its capacity.
Cr Kidd said he wanted more questions answered before deciding on whether the Macquarie Pipeline was right for Orange.
He will join calls for a back to basics approach for Orange with a focus on roads, footpaths and gutters but said the city also needed a infrastructure to attract businesses.
Cr Davis could not be reached for comment.