The extent of problems within the Orange Residents and Ratepayers Association council election ticket has been revealed with six candidates threatening to resign.
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A statement from the group said they told ticket leader and ORRA president Amanda Spalding, who has since left the group, they were concerned about 'a number of issues.'
"Last Saturday the other members, after careful consideration, informed Ms Spalding that they would all resign from the ticket, citing a number of issues," it said.
"Ms Spalding subsequently resigned as president of ORRA the following Monday, leaving the remaining candidates, comprising Frances Kinghorne, Daniel McGregor, Bev Williams, Eunice Adetifa, Jennifer Lacey and Colin Young, free to form a new ticket.
"Having already shown they are able to share their differing views and work together, the regrouped team will focus on their collective diversity, life and professional experiences, as well as their ideas for Orange."
Ms Spalding has announced she will stand as an independent for both the mayoral and councillor elections due on December 4.
The ORRA statement said they 'wished her the best of luck' in her election bid.
It said the team would now concentrate on its election campaign.
"Now is very much a time for renewal in council and we urge all residents and ratepayers to take an active interest in local government," it said.
"We don't have all the answers but promise to bring a better level of debate to the council chamber if given the opportunity to do so."
Ms Kinghorne said the group had not yet decided who would be the new ticket leader.
However, she said as the former number two she was available to take on the role.
"I'm happy to do it and I'm happy not to do it," she said.
Ms Kinghorne said other members of the group were also competent to take on the role.
The statement said many of its council candidates were relatively new members of ORRA.
The group said it was also looking for new members.
When out of COVID restrictions the group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Orange Ex-Services' Club.
Last week Ms Spalding said she had resigned from her roles with ORRA and as the head of the party ticket.
"ORRA has had its problems in the past and prides itself on being a broad church of opinions," she said.
"I had hoped that we could move forward together, but clearly that was too ambitious of me.
"I just decided that I was probably being too ambitious with trying to pull together a lot of people with different views."
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