Council hopeful Terry Maller claims to have a different perspective on issues to other councillors.
Mr Maller, former convenor of the City Residents Action Group, said he looked at issues from the streets up rather than from the top down.
“I initially came in with a residential viewpoint but my constituency has widened to include a fair number of small retailers,” he said.
“Small retailers view things much as residents. They feel left out of the equation when council makes decisions.”
Mr Maller suggests a free parking day to help city retailers compete with suburban shopping centres.
“The city has got to match the convenience of a shopping centre where patrons have easy access to car parking,” he said.
Mr Maller also advocates closing council’s dining room.
“Councillors should be given a credit card with a set allowance for the year to use to entertain guests at restaurants in the City of Perth,” he said.
“But the people they entertain must be electors. If not, they must get approval and show how that entertainment will benefit the city. I think it will be cheaper in the long run.”
Mr Maller said council needed to balance attention given to ‘big dollar’ tourists with the fact that backpackers stayed longer and spent more money which was spread among small retailers.
Mr Maller said he understood that council governed the capital city and had higher priorities.
“But you musn’t lose sight of the people who put you in your position,” he said.
