Councillor Gryllis' was just one of the faces which smiled at prospective voters from the black-and-white pages of the Central Western Daily in the build up to the Orange City Council elections 24 years ago.

Back then nearly all incumbent and would-be councillors ran advertisements on our pages to spruik their achievements and trumpet the pivotal positions associated with their campaigns.

Nearly a quarter of a century on two points hit home: the key issues in Orange haven't really changed and, to some degree at least, neither have the councillors.

Councillor Gryllis was a sitting alderman in 1991, a (self-professed) "proven performer" with executive experience on a variety of local government committees.

The real estate agent is still serving on our present council, where he is joined by fellow 1991 candidates Russell Turner and Ron Gander.

Councillor Turner, who in between stints on council spent time in Macquarie Street as the member for Orange, hinged his campaign on a promise of "a better deal on rates."

Rates is a common denominator among the candidates' priorities, just as it remains a hot-button issue in the community today.

Parking, or the lack thereof, is also featured in many messages, with Martin Gleeson and Bob Curran making known their intentions to find more spaces.

In fact, Councillor Curran's issue list makes for very interesting reading. With the benefit of 24 years hindsight he starts to look like something of a visionary, citing the need for a heated pool, a skateboard ramp and a review of hotel trading hours.

Almost needless to say, work at the Orange Aquatic Centre and Anson Street skate park has ticked two of those boxes, while late-night antisocial behaviour continues to keep pubs' closing times in the spotlight.

What's true in life is obviously true in politics: the more things change the more they stay the same.