Small business owner Ben Blain has signalled his intention to run for city council in the upcoming election.
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The vice-president of the Warrnambool Ratepayers Association said he had been advocating for the community through that role and promised to be open, transparent, and work for a better Warrnambool if he was elected in October.
"I am a small business owner and understand the tough times in the current pandemic," he said.
"We need our council to be empathetic and enabling for all residents and businesses to encourage recovery to the Warrnambool economy."
He said the council needed to be transparent and act with the best interests of the community.
"The council needs to have the residents involved in the decisions they make," he said.
"I also have a strong belief that ratepayers aren't seeing the best bang for their rates dollar."
Mr Blain said it was "totally unacceptable" the council planned to again break the rate cap in 2022.
He said it was a proposal he would not support, especially after community consultation in 2018 found 97 per cent of people didn't want to see the rate rise go above the cap.
Mr Blain said he also believed it was possible to offer a rates freeze to residents to assist the many struggling businesses and households.
"The ratepayers of Warrnambool are definitely paying their fair share. We need a council of decision-makers that will work with the current revenue received by the council," he said.
Mr Blain said he hoped that when the community voted this year they looked to new candidates who will represent Warrnambool and stop the infighting and personal agendas.
"We need a new type of council that has the community of Warrnambool at heart," he said.
Mr Blain said he was was born in Warrnambool and had always "loved the natural surrounds and the lifestyle that makes it a great place to live".
"I have now cemented my connection with the city by purchasing a house with my wife Natalie."
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