Ahead of the NSW state election Counrty Labor candidate for Cootamundra, Mark Douglass, is asking communities to, "stop, take a breath and look at the future they want for their children, our elderly, sick and disabled."
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Mr Douglass was recently on the campaign trail in Cowra and stopped by the Cowra Guardian to discuss his plans for Cootamundra if he is elected.
"From my point of view we need to get the message out that the two things that give us equal opportunity in life, no matter what stage of our life, are education and health," he said.
"Everything else comes from that, obviously water and the environment are extremely important. But to the average mum and dad, average retiree; health and education are daily issues.
"A lot of people choose to send their kids away for education, to get a better start, but really you should be able to get your best start in the public school system.
"This is an election for your children, once we start degrading services the slide comes quite quickly," he said.
Mr Douglass said he was keen to see the electorate demanding more from it's politicians.
"They are the representatives of the community not the party whose flag they are flying," he said.
"This comes down to policy, I don't know that (sitting member) Steph Cooke knows enough about health to properly advocate for us.
"We should be asking where are the jobs, where's the structural reform we need to make our communities viable and give our kids a future.
"That's why if I'm elected I'm going to advocate for pay role tax to be reduced or stopped in rural areas to make it easier to employ people here.
"I was a National and I decided there's a lot of old heads in there, they talk to themselves and gee themselves up, but there's no one listening to the guy out on the street.
"So if you're really happy and you think nothing can improve, every thing is hunky dory that's fine, but if you reckon we can do better, you reckon you've been neglected and overlooked then it's time for a change."
