RON Pike spent three solid weeks deciding whether he would leave the Nationals Party.
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“I had no intention of standing for politics,” Mr Pike said.
“I went through three weeks of absolute anguish and then I sat down and wrote a long letter of resignation.
“The day after I’d sent it I was totally relaxed about it.”
Mr Pike said he became disillusioned with the Party because there was very little action when it came to water policy.
“Water policy in NSW is not right,” Mr Pike said.
“It’s counterproductive, it’s ruining regional communities and it’s not helping the environment.”
Mr Pike said he had spent many years in search of a solution.
“A group of us provided a plan to Parliament that will provide all of Australia’s water for the next 100 years,” he said.
“We’ve spent five and a half years on the plan.”
After resigning from the party, Mr Pike decided he would stand in the state election.
Mr Pike said he was disappointed at the lack of willingness to consider the plan.
He has thrown his support behind independent candidate Helen Dalton in the seat of Murray and will run in the Legislative Council on Saturday.
He is running on the Group V ticket with Brian Hopper, Paul Pierotti, Ross Davidson, Paul Snaidero and Alan Barton.
“We will fix this water mess, that’s why I’m standing,” Mr Pike said.
“Paul Snaidero and Paul Pierotti have been key drivers of this Legislative Council campaign,” Mr Pike said.
Country Party of Australia chairman Pete Mailler is also on the ticket.
“Both men are independent retailers in Griffith and understand the importance of a viable agricultural sector to the viability of the entire regional economy.”
Mr Mailler said he was pleased to be involved to support Ron Pike’s candidacy.
“My nomination in the fourth seat on the ticket is a key support and endorsement function," Mr Mailler said.