George Capsis, Community First Independents.

Reverend George Capsis is a long-term resident of Sutherland Shire, having lived in the Cronulla area since 1950.

He founded the charity, Community Outreach Ministries, which deals with issues such as youth homelessness, family disruption, aged care, and mental health.

His community work is done on a volunteer basis, with no government funding.

Capsis has distinguished himself in the sport of weightlifting, winning numerous state, Australian and even world championships.

He continues in the sport as competitor and coach.

Reverend Capsis is well known as the chaplain to the Cronulla Sharks Rugby League Club, and also served as a chaplain for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In 2006 he was in the Queen's birthday honours list, receiving an OAM in recognition of his community work.

He said he had a strong interest in issues such as traffic and parking, sensible development, protection of the environment, community welfare and reversing the neglect of Kurnell.

Scott Docherty, Labor

Councillor Scott Docherty grew up in the eastern end of Sutherland Shire and lives at Caringbah.

He works in the finance industry and said he brought his financial skills to his council responsibilities and was first elected in 1999.

"I am the only sitting councillor who has consistently opposed high-rise and overdevelopment in the shire," he said.

"The community expects its representatives to apply council's planning laws and stop inappropriate development.

"I have worked closely with residents to oppose inappropriate development and I fight developers who ignore the community's concerns about our shire.

"I will oppose any move to inflict more high-rise development on the shire and I will move to scrap the proposal for up to 14 storey high-rise in Caringbah.

"I will ensure no council car parks are sold to developers.

"I'll work to bring more parking online in Caringbah and Cronulla and fight for better roads to reduce traffic."

Australia First candidate John Newton.

John is a semi-retired builder who has lived more than 35 years in Sutherland Shire.

"Our council has become tainted over suggestions of a nexus between development and political donations," he said.

"We need a cleaner politics free of the odor of corruption.

"That means limiting the influence of the major parties at council level.

"I am opposed to developments like the Kirrawee brick pit high rise, which favour the increase-the-population agenda of the big-business-connected forces.

"I want more council involvement in providing assistance for aged care and child care than for multicultural projects.

"I want more democracy at local level so we can have a true say over development.

"That means citizens initiated referenda, so we can make the rules directly if we must."

Carol Provan, Shire Watch Independents.

Carol Provan is a proven face in Sutherland Shire.

She is a former independent mayor and has joined the Shire Watch independents to ensure improvements are made to the facilities which support older residents as well as youth.

"I will fight vigorously to save the Croydon Street car park and to improve parking throughout A Ward," she said.

"I want to see more car parking spaces made available to thwart over-zealous council rangers."

Ms Provan said she would contest the council's in-principle decision to allow Australand to develop on the Wanda sand dunes.

She said she would maintain Shire Watch's campaign to stop sand mining on the peninsula and would hold Sydney Water accountable for any destruction caused by the building and operation of a desalination plant.

A successful businesswoman in her own right, Ms Provan also has strong sporting ties with husband Peter and brother Norm, both rugby league legends.

Kevin Schreiber, Putting the Shire First Independents.

Councillor Kevin Schreiber said he was a councillor with experience.

He was elected to council in 1995 and served as mayor from 1996-99, and was re-elected mayor again in 2004 and 2005.

He has lived in Sutherland Shire for more than 28 years, is a member of the executive of the Local Government Association, a director of Manchester Unity health fund, and owns a local small business.

Cr Schreiber said he was also a passionate supporter of the Surf Life Saving movement and the Rural Fire Service.

He said he had made significant inroads in creating a platform for sound financial management and infrastructure planning.

He has also headed many high-profile campaigns including the fight to stop the desalination plant and the bid to stop sand mining at Kurnell.

Cr Schreiber said the disturbances in Cronulla in December 2005 took many by surprise, but as both mayor and the ward councillor he managed the demands of the community in a compassionate and level-headed way.

Marie Simone, Independent

Marie Simone is a lifelong resident of Cronulla whose family has owned businesses in the area since 1956.

She said she had a lifelong commitment to the people and neighbourhoods in Sutherland Shire.

In 2004, she was elected to Sutherland Shire Council as the only ungrouped independent councillor.

Ms Simone said she was running again to stop party politics ruining the dhshire.

"After the council proposed investigating massive multi-story high-rise in Caringbah I voted against it, and have committed myself to retaining the shire way of life,'' Ms Simone said.

"I want to see the Croydon street car park saved from being sold, and the fight against the desalination plant continued," Ms Simone said.

"We need balanced budgets and planning for an aging population.

"This council is far too political, and families suffer when they just want to build a family home.

"Let's get rid of the red tape and politics."

Naomi Waizer, The Greens.

Naomi Waizer was the Greens candidate in the recent federal and state elections.

She said she understood local community issues and supported a sustainable way of life for all.

She said in the local government election she would continue to focus on the protection of Kurnell peninsula.

"The Greens have opposed the critical infrastructure legislation and the desalination plant in the NSW upper house," she said.

"I support the campaign to ban developer donations to political parties and for keeping town planning local, not in the hands of the planning minister."

Ms Waizer was part of the Greens' campaign to ban developer donations to political parties and for keeping town planning local.

She has been an active member of the NSW Greens' economics working group for the last two years, is on the committee of her local childcare centre, and is treasurer of her bridge club.

Ms Waizer said she would promote sustainable development, financial responsibility and a healthy community, where everyone had an opportunity to have their say and participate.

Bryan Wiseman, Community First Independents.

A Ward candidate Bryan Wiseman said he was born and raised in Sutherland Shire.

"I have worked in television and radio since I was a child and have appeared in a range of TV shows including Living with the Law with Russell Crowe, Rafferty's Rules, Water Rats and Home and Away to name a few," he said.

Behind the scenes, Mr Wiseman said he had dedicated his time to caring for his disabled mother and late father for the past 20 years.

In 2006 he was a finalist in the shire's Citizen of the Year awards for his efforts as a carer to his parents and to cancer sufferers.

Bryan said he prided himself on his ability to empathise with others in the community and was known for his compassion, courage and relentless determination to stand up for others.

"When I'm on a mission, let's just say I don't concede defeat very easily," he said.