Labor councillor Jan Forshaw will stand again, as will Mayor David Redmond who will contest this election as an independent.

Independent Ian Kolln will head a fourth ticket. Darrin Hodges of Australia Protectionist Party is the fifth primary candidate.

CANDIDATES

Howard Boorman, D Ward, Shire Watch Independents

Heading the Shire Watch ticket for D Ward is Howard Boorman who, with his wife and two sons, has lived in Sutherland Shire for more than 20 years.

Mr Boorman is president of the Woronora Heights Residents' Association and has been an advocate for the area's road improvements and the preservation of Greenweb corridors.

He said he understood the community's needs and expectations and would fight the threat of overdevelopment.

Mr Boorman replaces councillor Val Sugden as the Shire Watch candidate in D Ward.

He said he wanted to see traffic congestion reduced and improved parking.

"My focus for the future is to see significant improvement made to the local infrastructure that was so badly neglected by the Liberal Party in the three years they held power," he said.

Shane Burke, D Ward, Community First Independents (number two on David Redmond's ticket)

Shane Burke has been a Sutherland Shire resident since 1954.

He was educated at St Patricks College Sutherland and the University of Sydney before working as a mineral exploration geologist in regional Australia and overseas.

He returned to University to gain teaching qualifications, taught high school Science for the NSW Department of Education for several years and spent time in virtually every shire high school as a relief teacher while commencing his business career.

As a teenager he became a Queens Scout and later served as a Venturer Scout Leader for his original scout group.

He has founded and operated diverse businesses in the shire and for the last 20 years has operated his import-export and consultancy business.

He lives in the shire with his wife and child and has served on the council's nuclear waste sub-committee.

Jan Forshaw, D Ward, Labor

Councillor Jan Forshaw has a history in D Ward.

"I have lived nearly all my life in Sutherland Shire and for more than 30 years in the area covered by D Ward," she said.

"I have always been active in local community and school groups, whilst raising a family, so I know and understand the needs of residents.

"It has been my privilege to represent our local area on council since 2004.

"I have worked hard to achieve new and improved facilities such as the Sutherland and Engadine Leisure centres, a number of new playgrounds and parks, increased support for community groups, new Bushfire Brigade stations, the upgrade of Sutherland Library and increased funding for roads and footpaths.

Cr Forshaw said she was keen to continue work on projects such as the Engadine Community Centre and the upgrade of Sutherland shopping centre.

Darrin Hodges, D Ward, Independent

Independent candidate Darrin Hodges has been a Sutherland Shire resident all his life.

He said he had a passion for the traditions of the area.

"My primary concern is for retaining the amenity, traditions and lifestyle that I grew up with and that Sutherland Shire has become famous for," he said.

"To ensure that the shire remains a safe, peaceful and harmonious family orientated community of Australian heritage, it is important to prevent over-development.

"Of particular concern are the large number of unit blocks being built in the Shire.

"We do not want the shire to become like Hurstville.

"I would also be opposed to the development of sex-shops and Mosques as the former undermines family values and the latter causes community tension.''

Ian Kolln, D Ward, Independent.

Independent Candidate Ian Kolln said he had run for council before and history provided an education for future decision making.

"Council is a $220m a year business and major employer," he said.

"In the 21st century we expect efficient management and service delivery for us as customers.

"The internecine political conflict is not productive and I stand by my written pledge from 1977 to work for the best outcome for the Sutherland Shire community.

"I will work to link council staff and volunteers in the community for sporting clubs and teams, bushcare and natural environment workers, community service and self-help groups."

Mr Kolln said 40-day development application approval should be standard for residential applications that complied with the Local Environment Plan.

David Redmond, D Ward, Community First Independents (Number one on ticket)

Mayor David Redmond has lived in Sutherland Shire for 50 years, currently at Woronora Heights with his wife Miriam and their two school-age daughters.

He has been a councillor since 1995 and Mayor for the past two years and also chaired the council's finance committee for two years.

Cr Redmond had the responsibility of overseeing the council develop its first long-term strategic plan.

In his early years on council he chaired the community service and sport and recreation committee.

He recently retired from the NSW Fire Brigades after 28 years' service, spending the past 15 years as station commander.

Cr Redmond has been a recipient of the Fire Brigade's Unit Citation Meritorious for he and his crew's actions under hazardous circumstances.

Melanie Gibbons, E Ward, Putting the Shire First Independents.

Councillor Melanie Gibbons said as a life-long Sutherland Shire resident she had always dedicated herself to community, family and those who need a strong representative.

Cr Gibbons works in the not for profit sector.

"In the four years I have been a local councillor I have opposed inappropriate development,'' she said.

"I want to see the council deliver responsible budgets that reduce debt and address seriously the planning for the ageing population."

Cr Gibbons said a safe and clean environment were also top priorities.

"I served as deputy mayor during an exciting period in our shire where I helped lower the council's debt and improve services to our community and voted against increasing the council's debt in this year's budget.

Damian Ogden, E Ward, Labor

Labor candidate Damian Ogden said he reckoned Sutherland Shire was a great place to live.

"It's where I grew up, and it's where my partner Rebecca and I want to raise our own family," he said.

"If elected councillor I will work to protect our beautiful natural environment by ensuring the shire does not fall prey to overdevelopment.

"As with many in our community I'm particularly concerned about the lack of council-assisted childcare places, the increasing number of traffic blackspots on our local roads and inadequate parking for commuters at our train stations.

"Sutherland Council needs new energy and new ideas and councillors who are willing to go out into the community and listen to residents."

Steve Simpson, Independent.

Cr Steve Simpson has lived in Sutherland Shire with his family for more than 20 years, has represented the Menai area since 1995.

"I hope to remain on council to make future contributions to up-grading local sports facilities local parks and improve the council's services, especially for the families and the aged," he said.

"The council must continually look at the services it provides to ensure that the families the aged and those with disability are not left behind.

"When I was first elected the Menai district had few community facilities for its large population.

"We are on the way to having the facilities but we cannot let it slip now.

"Without a strong voice on council standing up for the local area the council dominated by councillors from the eastern side of the shire will simply see our area as a cash cow to milk for their local community.

"I will also continue to regular meet with community whenever possible."

Peter Towell, E Ward, Shire Watch (Number one on ticket)

Peter Towell chairman of the Menai West Barden Ridge Residents Association and was an active participant on the Bangor By-Pass Community Liaison Group.

Mr Towell has lived in Sutherland Shire for more than 18 years.

He is a plumber and TAFE teacher and said with qualifications in health and building surveying he was ideally placed to understand the workings of local government as an elected official.

"The shire is here to be enjoyed not destroyed," he said.

"I will work tirelessly to ensure only sustainable, sensitive development that is conducive to the character of the area, is approved."

Mr Towell said he was also committed to seeing local sporting grounds returned to their former glory.

He believed small business in the shire needed greater support and local infrastructure deserved a boost.

Ruth Zeibots, E Ward, Shire Watch (number two)

Ruth Zeibots said living in Bangor for 25 years had given her a particular interest in environmental issues.

"Having been an inaugural member of Sutherland Shire Environment Centre I was involved in the mega-tip campaign of 1993, defeating the proposed expansion of Lucas Heights site to three times its capacity," she said.

"As a result recycling measures were taken on board considerably extending the life of the tip.

"At present my main focus is to support public transport for the former F6 corridor.

"With Sydney's worsening traffic problems, building more freeways is not the answer.

"I regard Menai as a wonderful part of the shire to raise a family, having educated my own three children since moving to Bangor in 1983.

"With the upgrade of Menai Road by the council I would like to see E Ward keep its bushlands, open-space, walk-ways and cycleways."

Profiles were not submitted for the following candidates:

D Ward

Labor: Diedree Steinwall, Peter Sullivan

Shire Watch: John Souvleris, Brian Budden

Community First: Barbara Collins

Independent: Jackson Haynes

E Ward

Labor: Karen Howell, Alex Aravadinos Belerhas

Independent: Ryan Murphey, Miray Sarkis

Independent: Russell Smith, David Thomas

Shire Watch: Margaret Jennings