Vote for Jenny Aitchison For Mayor of Maitland

A statement from Jenny:

Many people have told me they want a Mayor who is new to Council, with a fresh approach. In my role as President of the Women's Network over the last three years, I have worked with men and women from all sides of the political spectrum, including Liberals, Greens, Labor and Independents to encourage more women to stand for Council.

I have proven my ability to work inclusively as is appropriate for the Leadership role of the Mayor. Most importantly, I believe it is no good working towards a goal if you are not willing to put yourself forward. I have a broad life experience, so I see things from a number of perspectives. I have worked in Government, been an employee, been a community leader and grown my own business.

My company, Northern Highland Travel, has over the past ten years played an integral role in promoting our city, sustainable transport, and healthy lifestyles, and has actively partnered directly with a large number of community groups. I have successfully demonstrated throughout my career a dedication to improving the lives of others and excellent people skills.

I have studied at Uni and Tafe, worked as a young single person, then later, as a working mum raising a young family, and my company has a middle aged to older client group with some on social support, so I can relate to the variety of needs we all have as we grow and develop. I believe that Maitland City Council has a role to play in ensuring that our community helps everyone to achieve their best, regardless of their age, health, ability, sex, social or financial status.

I am passionately committed to improving the lives of all members of our community and prioritising our budget to ensure that everyone in has access to quality health, education and support services.

Living next to the New England Highway, and working in tourism, I am reminded every day of the lack of essential infrastructure in Maitland. We need to ensure that developers meet their obligations to provide excellence in infrastructure and services rather than leaving the burden to ratepayers and the rest of our community. Planning is a key issue for Maitland, and new developments should be planned more strategically to meet the needs of our community. Council has a role to play in encouraging appropriate development and this should be independent of sectional economic interests.

I decided to run for Mayor because the issues that concern me go across the city and apply to people in all wards. I am a strategic and quick thinker and I am committed to giving value and making anything I work on better. Over the last few months, I realised that I had to be the change I was waiting for. I hope you will join me in making the change we all need, to build a Better Maitland.