Former Uralla Shire Council general manager Tom O’Connor retired in 2014 but has thrown his hat in the ring for the mayoral position.

But he’s the only candidate not also running for a spot on council in the September 10 election as well.

His campaign is based on 35 years in local government and he says that experience gave him the skills to manage this situation.

“The dynamic, expertise and skill set required of a mayor elected at large, requires an ability to work together with anyone that is provided and also to develop a cohesive team,” he said.

“I see myself standing and being able to provide that new structure.”

Council’s independence and the recent round of council mergers are important issues candidates will need to address.

Council has seen off a number of threats over the years and Mr O’Connor said he was instrumental in Uralla remaining independent when he was general manager.

“I have been heavily involved with the defense of Uralla as an autonomous council since I started with the council in 2003,” he said.

“We have virtually been fighting mergers and amalgamation ever since that time. I don’t think mergers have gone off the agenda, so I think we will continue to need the corporate knowledge that is now lacking within the council because of the retirement and retrenchment of a number of the senior staff.”

He will face competition for Invergowrie resident Natasha Ledger who is also running for the top job.

The mother-of-four has a background in business and says if elected, her main focus will be on the health and wellbeing of Uralla residents.

Ms Ledger hails from Sydney but has spent much of her life working in regional Australia, including the past eight years in the New England.

“I found myself working in Narrabri for the second largest wheat farmer in NSW, where we built cattle yards from barking trees, drove tractors, grew produce, fenced for miles, herded vermin, and attended to the daily drill of farming life [sic],” Ms Ledger said.

Upgrading the Shire’s road network would be a priority for Ms Ledger if she were elected.

“Roadworks would be a large part of my agenda, and with my experience within my present business, I believe this is largely achievable, and would increase property values, decrease the need for car maintenance (eg constant damage to suspension and tyres ) and improve morale [sic],” she said.