Winter to run for mayor

DEAN Winter will focus on lowering rates and creating more parks and public spaces in his bid to be the next Kingborough mayor.

The Mercury can reveal the Kingborough councillor, 33, will take on incumbent Mayor Steve Wass and run for the top job, citing frustration with the council’s direction.

“What I have been talking about for four years has been lowering rates and stopping the massive rate rises that have been inflicted on Kingborough residents,” he said.

“I have voted against every rate rise in the past four years.”

Cr Winter, who has had senior roles with TasICT and the Tasmanian arms of iiNet and TPG, has recently taken a senior policy adviser position with state Labor leader Rebecca White, but has vowed to be an independent mayor, if elected.

Cr Winter said he wanted to entice younger people with families to vote in the upcoming election.

“I hear a lot of complaints from young families about the number and quality of our parks and public places,” he said

“They just want good roads and footpaths, nice parks and their rubbish collected on time.

“The simple fact is that unless they make their voice heard this October, nothing will change.”

Cr Winter said he wanted to lead the council on a back-tobasics approach.

“I just think it’s time for a change,” he said.