Tamworth council elections: councilor Jim Maxwell will stand for re-election in the December council elections

Jim Maxwell loves three things: the region, his family, and local government.

He's one of the few candidates from the region's small towns, but Jim Maxwell remains focused on the bigger picture.

While he's passionate about representing those from outside Tamworth, Cr Maxwell has big dreams for the entire region if he is re-elected to council in December.

Among a long list of top priorities, a key focus for Cr Maxwell is putting Tamworth on the map for more than just country music.

"You can get people here for country music but you can also keep them here and show them other things," he said.

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"I'd like to see the tourism not as city-centric as it has been."

To show off more of what the region has to offer Cr Maxwell said he'd love to see the continuation of beautification projects in public spaces and investment into showcasing the rich history of even the smallest pockets of the region.

"Perhaps the most important one would be the continuing upgrade of our public toilets," he said.

"When you go to a town the first place you go is the public toilets, and for me, I judge a town by their public toilets."

Standing on Tamworth Regional Council since 2016, Cr Maxwell is here for the long haul and said being re-elected would mean he could ensure everything he started would be completed for the region to enjoy.

This included water security, the country road network, and the Tamworth Global Gateway Park to enhance rural livelihoods and employment.

"The Global Gateway industrial park will create a huge amount of employment for not only Tamworth but all surrounding towns and districts," he said.

"We've got the Manilla River pumping station completed and now we're just working on the Namoi River pumping station."

With 17 years representing Manilla Shire Council also on his resume, Cr Maxwell said he knew how to get things done and would work with the rest of the council to do just that.

"Tamworth councillors are team players, we find a project and we go with it," he said.

To highlight his passion for everything small towns have to offer, when asked to bring along an item of significance, Cr Maxwell brought the 1890 M. C. Mackenzie and Sons Journal which features personal accounts of the first settlers and founders of the Manilla area, including his own great grandfather.

"The Manilla district has been very good to our family for a long time," he said.

"I thought perhaps it's time that someone gave a little bit more back and I thought the way of doing that was by joining council."

Cr Maxwell said being re-elected in December would feed his passion and love for all things rural.

"We live in the best part of the world, there's no doubt about that," he said.

"I'm not the most highly educated person in the world but I've got common sense and I just love this region."

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