A NEW candidate has thrown his hat into the ring for the MIA in the upcoming federal election, giving residents yet another option to ponder.
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Independent candidate Kevin Mack, who is the current mayor of Albury, has made it clear his fight was about "listening, learning and acting" on behalf of regional communities and returning them to their "former glory".
He says he is "in it to win it" despite currently maintaining his position as Albury's mayor.
Mr Mack hit back at claims made by current member Sussan Ley that he would only be "part time" in both roles, all the while making it clear his campaign would not be about personal attacks.
"At the end of the day, Sussan Ley has had 18 years to secure water for this economy. Instead this economy has withdrawn and so has she," Mr Mack said.
"It’s her party's policies that have not accommodated for regional Australia, and that’s the bigger issue. I don’t believe it is Sussan's fault at all."
Mr Mack says the MIA and wider region can only benefit from having an independent representative without the "significant" restraints of party politics or policies.
While he believes the Murray-Darling Basin plan needs to remain to secure the water, significant changes need to be made to make agricultural business viable again.
Mr Mack said he has seen a lot of "shape-shifting" politics which hand-balls issues to other spheres of government instead of advocating on behalf of the people.
"Actions speak louder than words… my history is out there - six years in local government, five years as mayor of Albury," he said.
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