Labor's Port Stephens Local Government Committee and local branches, the Tomaree Peninsula and the Raymond Terrace Branch, are today outlining their plan to run candidates in the upcoming Port Stephens Council elections in September.
The Local Government Committee's President, Giacomo Arnott has claimed the current government is "hiding behind the word 'independent' to put forward their hidden agendas and "our community is sick of it."
"With controversy being the main outcome of the last four years of Council, it is time for a refresh, and these elections will be a great opportunity for the residents of Port Stephens to see a refresh occur," Mr Arnott said.
Port Stephens Mayor Bruce Mackenzie has fired back at the claims saying there is no one more independent than Bruce Mackenzie.
"I'm the most independent, rebel, outspoken, tell-it-how-it-is person that you will ever come across in your life.
"As for saying I'm hiding behind a political trend and I've got a hidden agenda shows the mentality of the people that said it because it is so far from the truth.
"As for running Labor tickets in Port Stephens, God help us.
"The day they have the Liberals, Labor, the Greens, One Nation, whatever, running for council and trying to control the council.
"Local council is not like that, it should not be like that, and there will be a big fat campaign against politics in local government at the next election for sure," Mr Mackenzie said.
