He has promised a very different campaign, saying he has a passion for grassroots, community led policy.

Jeremy has already begun to hold 'kitchen table meetings' in the community and plans to hold many more during the campaign so he can listen to the policies and ideas that are important to people's lives.

These conversations will form the policies Jeremy will take to the election. 

"If I'm able to win the seat, we'll have a very committed, locally-focused Independent who represents this community rather than representing a major party.

"If I don't win, we'll have made Lyne a marginal seat so we can get some attention and resources. Either way, the community wins."

Jeremy said his focus is on delivering on the wide ranging issues being raised by the community, from climate change and health, to aged care and education.

"Climate change keeps coming up as a major issue and people are disappointed that the major parties can't get a sensible policy because the Nationals and the Liberals don't believe climate change is real.

"We have to fix that now or our kids will pay the price.

"People are telling me about our roads and how they've improved a bit but we've still got a long way to go.

"Health, aged care, opportunities for young people to get a good education and then find a job or start a business, these are the real issues that people are worried about," Jeremy said.

Jeremy first moved to Taree to work at Radio 2RE in 1995.

He quickly became involved in community organisations and met his wife Frith during a production of Jesus Christ Superstar with the Taree Arts Council.

They are now raising three children in the Manning Valley and Jeremy said this is the reason he decided to run.

"I am raising my family here. This is our home.

"We can't afford for this area to be left behind for another three years," Jeremy said.

As someone who has voted for the National Party in the past, Jeremy feels the Nationals no longer represent the community and a change is needed.

"I've met Dr Gillespie many times. He's a nice enough person, but he hasn't worked hard enough for us in the six years he's been there.

"I don't blame him, he's sitting in a very safe seat and the Nationals are too distracted by their own internal problems. We need to give them a wakeup call."

Jeremy launched his campaign on Sunday (March 17) on the Manning riverbank in Taree.

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