FORMER Noosa councillor Ray Kelly has announced he will run for mayor in the 2016 council elections.
Mr Kelly is currently the second candidate to announce his candidacy for the position of mayor in the coming elections and will go head to head with the other mayoral candidate, Tony Wellington.
Mr Kelly, who served on the Noosa Council for 23 years until the amalgamation with Sunshine Coast Council, said his hiatus from local government had meant he could return with a new-found energy and a commitment to work hard.
Mr Kelly said he was passionate about supporting innovative industries to become established in the Noosa region as well as focusing on the need for sufficient infrastructure and high speed internet.
Planning schemes which reflect the needs of the community, protection of the environment and the community lifestyle are on the top of Mr Kelly’s agenda along with a focus on re-establishing a junior council.
Mr Kelly said he was against party politics in local government.
“Local government is for the people of our community not the party play makers,” he said.
