Tamworth 2021 council elections: deputy mayor Phil Betts brings a wealth of experience to the council

PHIL BETTS' track record speaks for itself.

If experience is the teacher of all things, then deputy mayor and election candidate Cr Betts has learned a lot in more than 17 years in local government.

"You can have people with the greatest ideals in the world but you need to gain that experience," he said.

"On a council you need experience and new people, and it's really pleasing to see that this election we have some young women and men with families that I really think would benefit our broader community.

"But you need experience to guide them through that, because it's not an easy process, let me tell you."

Cr Betts has seen his fair share of major projects come to fruition. But, he has unfinished business.

The Tamworth Global Gateway Park and Tamworth University campus are all on the cusp of greatness and he hopes he'll be elected for another term to pull them across the line.

"All of those things have come about by knowing the system," he said.

A quick look at his resume shows he was chair of the Chaffey Dam reference panel, which worked with the state government and bureaucrats to turn what was just a dam safety upgrade into more water security for the region.

It's why when asked to bring an item of significance, he brought a photo of himself and State Water project manager David Watson at Chaffey Dam, one of his proudest achievements.

Looking towards the future Cr Betts wants to see the $67 million aquatic centre become a reality and pilot training returned to the airport.

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And with 45 years in the NSW Rural Fire Service, many of them as captain of the Moonbi and Kootingal Brigade, he believes he has the skills to react fast and create change.

"You have to go from the ultimate autocrat when you're in an emergency situation when it's like a war zone and you have to make life or death decisions - you can't be conciliatory, you have to take on board all the concerns and questions but you have to make that decision," he said.

While in the community his goal is to get as much consensus and input as possible.

"You need to feel engaged as a community member whether you're a pensioner or right through to one of the entrepreneurs, you need to feel engaged and that you have ownership and that's a quality I possess," he said.

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