As the Griffith City Council byelection approaches, The Area News chats with the candidates to see what makes them tick.
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Name: Mohannad Suleiman
Name of ticket or independent: SULEIMAN Mohannad
Age: 40s
Family: Safa my wife, and three boys Adam, Shams and Jad.
What do you do for a living? Managing chicken farms for Rural Fund Management.
How long have you lived in Griffith? Almost 12 years.
What is the best part of living in Griffith? I really enjoy living the country life, never been a fan of big cities. Add to that a unique Italian heritage and a culturally diversified community and I was hooked. I moved here for one year work contract, and 12 years later I am still here.
Why are you running for Griffith City Council? I have been living in this community for the last decade, and I believe that it is time to give back to this good community of ours and serve the people who welcomed me with open arms.
Council decision making should come from the heart of our community. A good councillor will always ensure people’s concerns are heard and used as the building blocks of any decision. With your support, let us aim to achieve that.
How would you assess the performance of the current council? They have done a great job, nonetheless, I believe there is more to do, a lot more. My main concern is the decreasing numbers of small businesses, I walk down the streets and all I see is empty shops.
If elected, what would you lobby for? I believe that farmers are the core of our community, however, what is more important than them are their kids, and our kids; giving them proper local higher education.
For the last two years, a university in Griffith has not moved beyond paper plans. This university will attract students from the areas around Griffith, hence supporting local businesses as well.
What are the main issues you see in the Griffith LGA? A few issues come to mind: Streets need resurfacing, Lake Wyangan is infested with blue algae, parks need more shading area. Connecting the city with the major cities. These are just a few, as I said earlier, a lot needs to be done.
What are the best ways council can help businesses prosper in the city? Attracting more residents, is the best way to give the businesses a better chance to prosper.
Are there any major projects you would champion if elected? I believe we should pursue a university in our city, it will benefit our community greatly, giving the locals a better chance of higher education, also, attracting new businesses and supporting local ones.
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