Members of the Liberal Party have regrouped to form an independent ticket for the upcoming Penrith City Council election after it was announced last month that the NSW Liberal Party would not endorse any candidates.
Sitting Liberal councillor and former Penrith Mayor, Ross Fowler, has organised the ticket with five candidates selected for each ward and six front-runners.
Mr Fowler will be running with former councillor, Lexie Cettolin in North Ward, Tricia Hitchen and Enid Golding will be running in East Ward and Bernard Bratusa and Darren Drysdale will be running in South Ward.
“Our local independent team will always put the needs of Penrith and St Marys ahead of party politics,” Mr Fowler stressed.
Tricia Hitchen’s candidacy for East Ward marks the former Penrith Police Chief Inspector’s return to politics after being defeated by Labor’s Karyn Paluzzano in the State Election of 2007.
“The first time I actually ran for Council was when I was 18-years-old and in year 12 at high school. I was on the Youth Committee board and we were seeking help from Council on various projects but weren’t getting very far so I decided to run. Of course I didn’t get elected but it was my first run,” she said.
Then, in 2006, after retiring from 25 years in the police force because of a knee injury, she was approached by the Liberal Party to run in the State Election.
“I was a bit naïve at the time,” she said.
“But it was a learning curve and I love getting out and talking to people in the community… That’s what I am really looking forward to in the coming months.”
Ms Cettolin said that the issues she will be raising if elected to Council will be dictated by the people of Penrith and not a political agenda.
“Council is not about politics,” she stated.
“I haven’t really followed Council the past four years… but I know it is time for change.”
In South Ward Mr Bratusa will be at the helm followed by Mr Drysdale at number two, followed by Anne Newton, Desley Grdusiak and Andrew Walker.
Providing support to Mr Fowler and Ms Cettolin in North Ward will be Tess Bratusa, Paul Mead and Dennis Golding.
In East Ward, the Liberal independent candidates behind Ms Hitchen and Ms Golding will be Glenda Cartwright, Tara Cettolin and Dulcie Harrison.
A noticeable exclusion from the ticket is current sitting councillor, Ben Goldfinch, who is still undecided about contesting the upcoming elections.
Mr Goldfinch told the Weekender that if he does decide to run for Council then he will form his own ticket and is not offended by his exclusion.
