The dynamic marketing lead with FOILD in Taree currently holds top spot in the community driven poll that seeks to identify and encourage people to stand for election to MidCoast Council on September 9.

The Facebook poll currently offers 36 names with Mrs Crossingham leading, and former Greater Taree City councillors Brad Christensen and Kathryn Bell sitting in second and third place. It was launched six days ago and its purpose is to find, encourage and get people thinking about the election, according to its creator Kyle Brown.

“It may be a way to get figures of support from the community in front of someone who may never have considered standing for council,” Kyle said. “A tangible way to show someone the community thinks they would be good at this.”

The community is responding and the campaign for more candidates and conversations about the election is gaining momentum. The list grows daily, so too do the number of votes and with that, changing poll positions. The current top 10 features Belinda Crossingham, Brad Christensen, Kathryn Bell, Kyle Brown, Russell Saunders, Graham Brown, Donna Ballard, Jeremy Thornton, Donna Carrier and David West.

It is also proving to be a forum for community discussion about the issues that concern ratepayers in the new MidCoast Council local government area. The need for job creation and new industry in the region saw Katrina Pearson call for the development of a hemp fibre industry to produce food, cloth, rope, paper and building products, and the creation of solar farms.

Conversations also offered up feedback about some of the work undertaken by the former three councils and MidCoast Council post-amalgamation and ideas for future initiatives. Community suggestions included painting the Martin Bridge, greater use of the Manning River for tourism and improvement to road infrastructure.

Respected Taree businessman Maurie Stack is backing the poll and urging the community to vote and to suggest candidates.

He describes the Manning Valley as a “diverse community” and says “it would be good to see the different parts of our community represented.”

“If we want a good council that can take advantage of the opportunities that arise from amalgamation then now is the time to act. We need to encourage the right people to stand for council and we need those people to put their hand up.”

To suggest a candidate and to vote in the poll visit the Facebook page Manning for MidCoast.