Following a successful campaign in the recent local government elections, incoming councillor Lindsay Tanner says the diversity among elected councillors will provide a clearer voice for many more people.
Mr Tanner and his ‘Build Tomorrow Together’ team gathered over five per cent of the Wagga population’s vote in the election, securing a seat at Wagga Wagga City Council for the first time.
“I was very pleased to be elected,” he said.
“It’s been an interesting experience running through the campaign and quite enjoyable with the team that I’ve been working with. The campaign we ran says that the things we focused on, which included supporting local businesses and looking after the infrastructure in our city, resonated with the community, which I’m really pleased about.”
Mr Tanner said the period between election day on 14 September and the results being confirmed on 1 October was intense but also allowed himself and his team time to reflect on their campaign.
“There was quite a wait between election day and the declaration,” he said.
“There’s been a bit of a chance to sit back and look back at our campaign process; we’ve been able to drop all the campaign stuff and have some downtime. Since the declaration, there has been a sense of excitement; everything will ramp up again as we head towards that first council meeting on 14 October.”
Mr Tanner was one of three new councillors elected, with five of the nine councillors who were elected being women. Mr Tanner said he welcomed Wagga’s first-ever female majority council and the work that it could do.
“I think what makes council successful, is having that cross-section of experience and backgrounds to the same table together,” he said.
“To have that diversity is a really good thing; I’m very pleased to see the gender balance and to be elected onto this council.”
Mr Tanner previously worked with Wagga Wagga City Council as manager for infrastructure for the better part of a decade and has over 20 years of experience working in transport and infrastructure services.
Mr Tanner said he believed his knowledge of the city’s infrastructure could help debate during meetings and provide insight to fellow members who might not be as knowledgeable on the area.
“What I bring to the table that perhaps others don’t have, is that knowledge of the workings of WWCC,” he said.
“I think that I have a set of skills that are going to be really helpful as council moves in towards its development and the 2026 financial year.”
The newly elected councillors will be sworn in at the 14 October ordinary council meeting, with the mayor and deputy mayor to be elected among councillors during proceedings.
A livestream of the meeting will be made available on WWCC’s website and Facebook page starting at 6 pm.