CANDIDATES:

Phil Blight, B Ward, Labor

Councillor Phil Blight has been a teacher and administrator in local primary schools and has been a Sutherland Shire resident for nearly 40 years.

He said his priorities include improving our roads and building more footpaths.

"The last council cut spending on roads and in comparison, I will ensure that they are improved to reduce traffic congestion," he said.

"We need more parking in shopping centres and near stations and this is something I will work to achieve.

"I have had Gymea programmed for improvements soon."

Cr Blight said he had a genuine record of controlling development compared to some independents who said they opposed development but then spent developers' money on expensive election campaigns.

"This election is about integrity - we need Councillors who will make decisions and act for the benefit of all not a particular few," he said.

Kent Johns, B Ward, Putting the Shire First Independents.

Councillor Kent Johns said he had been a strong representative for Sutherland Shire residents.

"I have been your local Liberal councillor for four years and fought against inappropriate development, and for balanced budgets and a safe and clean environment," he said.

Cr Johns is the general manager of an international water treatment company and is raising his family in Grays Point.

His children go to local schools and play sport.

He said he stood up against Labor Party corruption by blowing the whistle on Rockdale councillors found to be soliciting bribes.

"I have witnessed how Labor and Shire Watch vote together," he said.

"I was a lone voice in this ward opposing plans to investigate massive high-rise in Caringbah to satisfy Frank Sartor's draft plan for 10,100 new dwellings in the shire.

"This plan will ruin our way of life. I was the only local ward councillor to vote against increasing the council debt in this year's budget," he said.

Lorraine Kelly, B Ward, Shire Watch Independents

Lorraine Kelly was first elected to Sutherland Shire Council in 2002.

An advocate for transparency in all of council's decision-making, Councillor Kelly said she had striven to be a diligent community watchdog on council.

"In the past year as deputy mayor and chair of council's planning, environment and tourism committees, I have worked to rebuild council's reputation and overcome many of the questionable approvals handed out in the past," she said.

Cr Kelly said she led council's battle against a desalination plant, against sand mining, and her vote helped secure the heritage listing for the last Cronulla sand dune.

She has also demanded council takes a strong stand on antisocial behaviour and vandalism.

"And the community can thank Shire Watch for Centenary Park, which was flagged by the Liberal Party to become a high-rise development in Miranda," she said.

Lorraine Rodden, B Ward, Community First Independents.

Lorraine Rodden is returning to local government after serving as both a councillor and mayor.

"I have lived in Sutherland Shire for more than 50 years," she said.

"My husband and I raised four children, and I trained as a mature-age student as a registered nurse at Sutherland Hospital.

"I was an elected member of Sutherland Shire Council from 1995-2004 and served as mayor from 1995-96.

"My community activities include being a member of the Sutherland Shire Lioness Club and a board member of the Big Sister Foundation, a charity which assesses applications for grants for community services.

"I am a board member of Civic Disabilities Services providers of disabled employment and residential services, group homes and respite for the disabled.

"My interests are aged care and the disabled members of our community as well as providing services that enhance our local environment."

Mark Buttigieg, C Ward, Labor.

Mark Buttigieg, 42, has lived in Sutherland Shire for 31 years.

He lives in Cronulla with his wife Anna and four-year-old son Gerard.

Mr Buttigieg attended Sylvania High School and has represented the shire in soccer.

He works for Energy Australia, starting as an apprentice electrical fitter at 15, and now trains systems operators.

He holds an electrical trades certificate and a certificate in electrical engineering from TAFE, as well as an arts degree in political science and a first class honours degree in economics from the University of New England.

Mark represented the ALP in the seat of Cook at the last two federal elections and improved his party's vote by about 7 per cent over the two polls.

"I have had a wide variety of experiences during my family, work and educational life and am proud to have lived in the area for most of my life," he said.

"I believe councillors should be elected because they genuinely have the best interests of the area at heart.

"They should certainly not be elected to advance their own self-interest."

Margaret Hargrave, C Ward, Shire Watch Independents.

Margaret Hargrave is the essence of high-achieving community advocacy.

A nursing sister, freelance journalist, organic farmer, nursing lecturer, secondary English teacher, novelist, film writer and producer, and ghost-writer, Ms Hargrave moved to Jannali with her family in 1954.

She has been described as passionate, ethical and above all driven to ensure C Ward issues are well represented.

"I care deeply about our youth, community health, the needs of an ageing population, the arts, and the integrity of the built environment," she said.

"I joined Shire Watch independents in their bid to ensure Sutherland Shire Council's decision-making is un-influenced by any personal, political or commercial ties."

Ms Hargrave said she would work with council's traffic committee to reduce the growing number of disruptive truck movements throug the area.

Craig McCallum, C Ward, Putting the Shire First Independents

Former president of the Sutherland Shire Football Association, Craig McCallum will run as a candidate in C Ward at the local government elections.

Mr McCallum said he was motivated to run because of the "poor treatment that sporting clubs have been receiving from Sutherland Shire Council in recent years".

"There was a time when Sutherland Shire was renowned for the standard of its sporting facilities but the same cannot be said today," he said.

"It's time for a culture change at Sutherland Council.

"I have been involved in business for many years, and the customer always comes first.

"Unfortunately we the customers have not been coming first as far the council is concerned, so I have decided to put my hand up and do something about it."

Mr McCallum was born in Caringbah and attended Caringbah High School.

He has been a small businessman for most of his life, first starting a cleaning business which developed into McCallum Landscape Management, employing 85 fulltime staff.

Magdi Mikhail, C Ward, Community First Independents.

Councillor Mikhail and his family have lived in Sutherland Shire for 14 years.

He has served on Sutherland Shire Council since March 2004, holding positions including traffic committee chairman and being a member of the planning committee.

Cr Mikhail resigned from the Liberal group on council in December, 2007, "in order to maintain an independent view of council issues".

Cr Mikhail is an electrical engineer by profession and his wife is a general practitioner in Sutherland.

Their two daughters are university graduates, one in medical research, the other in law.

Mr Mikhail is president of the Rotary Club of Sylvania, an elected member of Sylvania Heights Public School council, an advisory board member of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Sydney, and has been a JP since 1991.

Cr Mikhail said he had worked hard for residents, community groups and charities, believes passionately in preserving the unique natural beauty of the shire, and was a very proud Australian.

Carmelo Pesce, C Ward, Independent.

Carmelo Pesce has been a lifetime Sutherland Shire resident.

He said he had enjoyed his time here and was passionate about the area.

Mr Pesce said he had a clear agenda to work through if he was elected.

Among his priorities were tackling council debt, providing more funding for sporting fields and aged care.

"I feel there needs to be more planning through council to cater for the community in the shire," he said.

"I believe in keeping families together in the shire through better aged care choices for our community."

Mr Pesce said during his campaign he would be out in his local community meeting with people.

"I look forward to hearing your vision to help me make the shire an even better place to live," he said.

Tracey Cook C Ward Independent

Tracey Cook is a home economics teacher at a senior high school and has lived in Sutherland Shire for 15 years.

Ms Cook is running alongside Carmelo Pesce.

She said she was keen to see the preservation of the lifestyle benefits that made the area vibrant and healty with a focus on improving facilities available for young people and the aged.

"There is scope for improvement in areas for youth to interact and play and will support more funding for sporting and playing fields in the area and help develop innovative new spaces," she said.

"The senior members of our area deserve more attention.

"I am committed to ensuring that their needs are considered and included in all planning and development within our shire.

"We want to strive to keep families together."

Ilona Fallas, C Ward, Independent.

Ilona Fallas is a Sutherland Shire resident who grew up in Miranda and Woolooware and now lives at Sylvania.

She is married with three young children and running alongside Carmelo Pesce.

She has been an active member of her community, supporting the school through the Parents and Citizen's Association and her children's various sporting interests.

She said she was passionate about seeing more funding being directed towards sporting facilities for children and adults.

She was keen to see more planning for aged care facilities and would like to see the council think more carefully on where funding goes.

Profiles

were not received for the following candidates:

B Ward

Shire Watch Independents: Glenyce White, Ian Rogers

Labor: Mary Clerke, Stephen Jones

Putting the Shire First Independents: Zois Nassis, Meredith Laverty

Community First Independents: Shellie McEvoy, Susan Lusty

C Ward

Shire Watch Independents: Suzanne Ford, Col Nicholson

Community First Independents: Glenda Philpott, Matthew McCarthy

Labor: Martha Halliday, Peter Scaysbrook

Putting the Shire First Independents: Giulio Di Stefano, Vikki Bless

Independents: Tracy Cook, Ilona Fallas