The Victorian local government elections will be held in October and conducted entirely by post. To help you make informed decisions on who should be making the big decisions for the Campaspe Shire, Jemma Jones has spoken to all prospective candidates to help people decide whom to tick off on their ballot paper.
The Free Press, Riverine Herald and Campaspe News will be rolling out two candidate profiles each week in the lead up to the election.
Paul Jarman has lived in Campaspe Shire all his life besides four years when he lived in Melbourne and travelled internationally for two-and-a-half years.
Mr Jarman is running for a seat on council this year because Campaspe Shire is his home, a home to his parents, and a home to his children, grandchildren and partner.
He said he had always tried to involve himself in and improve the community around him, whether that be in sport, business, or community groups most important to his family.
“This is where my family lives,” Mr Jarman said.
“We live in a great community and need to celebrate that more often, (and be) inclusive of all our communities.”
The issues most important to him are around keeping council issues and responsibility “the actual priority”.
These responsibilities include road and footpath networks, flood mitigation, sports and recreation reserves, parks and gardens, youth engagement, public safety, water advocacy, environment, farmland security and seeing an economic development and implementing a tourism strategy.
He said he would represent the community as he had been during his past years as a Campaspe Shire councillor: by listening, representing, advocating and delivering solutions for issues that the community faces for the best outcome for the entire shire.
“The community needs to have faith in a councillor who can deliver outcomes,” he said.
Mr Jarman grew up at the south end of the shire in Ballendella, near Rochester, and as a teenager he worked on a dairy farm.
Now, he is a business owner in Echuca and his 25 years’ experience in the community talking to residents from across the shire has given him an deep insight into what the community needs and wants.
Mr Jarman said his lived experience and business ownership in town and rural life across the shire had given him a helpful perspective into the different lives lived across the shire.
“(I love) country life and the opportunity this area has given me and my family,” he said.
Head online to view all profiles for Campaspe Shire Council candidates ahead of the 2024 local government elections.