Geoffrey Wise, a sitting councillor in the Greater Murray ward, moved to the region 37 years ago and is a resident of Moama.
He joined council seven years ago and has seen projects like new sports amenities in Barham and Moama, club rooms in Mathoura, the new Moama preschool, Moulamein Heritage Village improvements, new bowls club rooms in Wakool, park upgrades in Tooleybuc and a new preschool in Moulamein completed.
“I have had the privilege of watching the area grow at Olympic pace,” he said.
Some of his priorities include opposing taking away car spaces on Meninya St in Moama, monitoring the water treatment plant for future growth security and ensuring rates are reasonable.
He worked alongside fellow sitting councillors to negotiate the special rate variation proposals in 2023.
“I’m a negotiator (and) a practical person, always using reasoning to work things through,” he said.
Mr Wise believes he works hard for the entire council area, particularly in the area of roads because of their significant financial expense, allocating 60 per cent of the council budget to cover the 1500km of sealed and 1700km of unsealed roads.
Professionally, Mr Wise farmed on his former property for 13 years, before moving into retail and operating Echuca Mitre 10.
After 10 years, he built and ran Pink and Blue Early Learning in Echuca, managing around 60 educators and catering for about 300 families.
He sees himself as a risk-taker in his business life, and that these calculated risks have paid off.
Mr Wise is grateful for his time on council and to the community for entrusting him for the past seven years, which he hopes will continue.
“I still have legs to run and ask you to give me a go based on my practical skills and my business acumen,” he said.