Judith Burfoot served for three and a half years on the Queanbeyan council before it was dissolved as part of the merger.
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And she wants back in.
The Country Labor candidate fell in love with the region when passing through on a road trip and in 2006 moved with her husband Jasper to Queanbeyan.
Within six years the trained teacher and former librarian was representing residents in local government.
She chaired the Public Art Advisory and Cultural Development committees, championed improvements in public art, community art spaces, upgrades to the library and pool, and pushed for better pedestrian areas and safety around schools.
“I have decided to run because I to want to continue to make a contribution to my local community and to promote the arts in this region,” she said.
Ms Burfoot was disappointed by the dissolution of the council in 2016.
“It’s unfortunate that the state government dismissed the council last year,” she said.
“There was no need for it, our finances were in the black and our community had a democratically elected voice.”
Despite that she is keen to get back to the business of serving the community as a local representative.
“Since 1885 Queanbeyan has had a local voice. I want to be that local advocate on council to assist, and work with the community,” she said.
Achieving balance in the Queanbeyan-Palerang council was crucial to meet the diverse and competing needs of the community.
“Now that the region is bigger and takes in new communities, we need to make sure that our council continues to adequately service these towns and suburbs,” she said.
“I feel that it is important to ensure our council is transparent, and that the community is aware and has access to the decisions that our council is making – to ensure that the council has its community best interests at heart.”
