ABOUT ME:
My name is Angie Paspaliaris and I am standing as a candidate for the 2020 Warrnambool City Council elections. I am a local dentist, owner of Wilde Dental, who has been living and working in Warrnambool for the last 12 years, after moving from Adelaide as a new university graduate. My life has been solidly placed in our wonderful city for many years now, and I am eager to stand for Counc
il to ensure the community, which has so warmly embraced me, continues to prosper. PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:
Within my profession, I am responsible for the care and wellbeing of patients from all walks of life, which requires a compassionate, empathetic and ethical approach, and develops a relationship built on trust and honesty – it is those same attributes that I believe will make a fitting Councillor. As a health professional over the last 12 years, and a small business owner for the last 7 of those years, I have communication skills and strong business principles to help navigate Warrnambool toward a more promising future. Now more than ever, Council’s role is to show true leadership, to curb its unsustainable practices, and support the community through uncertain times. MY APPROACH:
As a ratepayer and small business owner, and with the unprecedented damage of COVID19 this year and its ongoing impact, I am fully aware and appreciative of the difficulties and challenges that so many of us are experiencing. Listening to, supporting and strengthening small business in our community is vital to Warrnambool’s future in the face of this pandemic. I want to work hard for our community in facilitating support and growth in tourism, an area I believe has untapped potential. In light of COVID19, this will become increasingly important as city-dwellers now more seriously consider a sea change or tree change. Given my beginnings here as a young professional, I want to keep attracting and retaining young people to our city, something so important in sustaining and increasing important services for our district. For the last 3 years I have attended monthly Council meetings, and have been proactive in asking public questions related to parking, Council spending, CBD works, and other issues affecting our community. I have asked important and probing questions, always asking for transparency and accountability – which is exactly what I intend to continue doing if elected. WHAT I WILL DO:
I will strive to encourage good governance, healthy debate, discussion and innovation within our Council. If I am fortunate enough to be elected, my promise is that I will be a Councillor who has her finger firmly on the community pulse – a cooperative and respectful member of Council who has a clear and accurate idea of what the community wants and expects – someone who will proactively and genuinely consult with and serve our community well. Warrnambool ratepayers, residents and business owners deserve better and more responsible financial decision-making by Council, and I want to get the basics back in order – we must stop the unnecessary wasting of funds – we must prioritise the services, improvements and projects that we need above those we simply want. We must start making sensible decisions, give ratepayers value for money and stop the rate hikes. It is simply not fair for Council to keep spending carelessly and expect ratepayers to foot the bill. MY PROMISE:
I am standing to help bring the function of Warrnambool City Council back to its fundamental objectives and to get those objectives right – to restore its financial foundations and gain the community’s trust once again – both of which are very necessary for our city’s success. I want to steer Council ‘Back to Basics’ for a better Warrnambool.
