The father of two decided to run as a councillor on September 9, inspired by his previous employment at Leichhardt, Randwick and Willoughby councils where he started in customer service and moved onto human resources. 

He moved to Orange with his wife and two children four years ago in search of a more relaxed lifestyle and is currently working in human resources for the Western NSW Local Health District.

“If anyone asked me what position I’d recommend, it’s customer service because you know how the council relates to people, the structure of the three levels of government and how they interact,” he said.

“I’ve always had an interest in politics so I thought, what better way to get involved than running myself?”

He said his age reflected the median in Orange, making him an appropriate candidate.

Like fellow National and incumbent councillor Russell Turner, Mr Chisholm said his approach would be free from party politics and he preferred to run alone.

“If you look at the last election, there were three people who got over the line, who were under the line and you’re in control of your own destiny,” he said.

“The problem with the group system is you need six people but really you’re only going to get two or three elected.”

He has set out a number of his policies online, including more playgrounds in newer housing estates.

A resident of North Orange, he said he had no option but to drive his two children, aged five and three, to the adventure playground because there were no closer facilities. 

“I can’t see how [the subdivisions] got done without an allocation of land for play equipment, and they’re still building houses there today,” he said.

While the council’s roads budget has received a recent boost, Mr Chisholm noted it had occurred in the lead-up to the election.

“I’m a bit cynical,” he said.

“Every time we have family friends visit, the first thing they notice is the condition of the roads.”

He wanted a return to two free bulky waste collections a year, rather than a $209 charge, but thought the booking system should stay.

“It’s a program I’ve seen work in Sydney,” he said.

He supported a recent vote to allow swimming at Gosling Creek and efforts to diversify Orange’s tourism to include sporting events, but wanted to see a review of the Blayney Cabonne Orange sub-regional strategy before he could support an industrial business park at Orange Airport.

Mr Chisholm also wanted to ensure the former Orange base hospital’s redevelopment was put out to adequate public consultation.

“The last thing I want to see is residents paying for poor planning for years to come.”