I attended a candidates’ forum at Marong on October 4 as, like the majority of the ratepayers who have spoken to me, I also don’t know most of these people.

Lockwood ward has 12 candidates. Dare I call them the Dirty Dozen. By the end of the night, I had whittled that down to the Magnificent Seven, but only three seats are available, so who will be my Three Musketeers?

No one stood out on the night. I firmly believe that we need a change from the old guard, but who should replace them?

I would normally fill out my ballot paper as soon as it arrives, but this time I can only fill in the lower section, as I really don’t know who most reflects my values and ideals and is deserving of my vote, my trust and my hope that they will represent me and my community, fairly and honestly over the next four years.

Gone are the days when your local councillor was known to you. The demographics of the ward inhibit this, it is simply too vast.

The son of one of the sitting councillors asked if all 12 lived in the ward. Ten raised their hands and the other two admitted living on the fringe, but with connections to the ward. Residence in the ward is not a prerequisite to standing, but in my opinion preferable.

One candidate rightly pointed out that it’s not about what he wants when or if he’s elected, it’s about what the ratepayers want.

Time and time again new aspirants said they were there to listen. We can only hope that whatever the make-up is of our new council, they will all listen and heed the words of the voters who put them there.

In an attempt to stop collusion between candidates and prevent “dummies” passing on their votes, how-to-vote cards are no longer supported.

We are all intelligent enough to make up our own minds where our preferences should go.

Our local storekeeper invited aspirants to visit Marong and set up a table under her front porch so others like myself can learn more about these men and women who want our vote.

I came away from the forum saying that I didn’t want to vote for any of you.

Change my mind, educate me and my fellow ratepayers as to your worth, so we can make an informed decision for those all important top three places on our ballot paper.

Every true fairy tale needs a Grinch, but it was seeming impossible to find one.

So thank you for your letter Garry Rice (“Swans never had a chance”, Bendigo Advertiser, October 5), you've made the Bulldogs' story complete.

What a typically stupid comment from another politician, this time from Lisa Chesters.

In part of her comment regarding the Country Fire Authority/United Firefighters Union, she said: "We all know the Liberals hate unions and the workers they represent.”

Hate means to abhor, loathe, detest, to be revolted by. Really, Lisa, it is a despicable thing to say that the Liberals hate workers.

Who is more believable? Solicitor–General Justin Gleeson, SC, who is fighting to maintain good communications and legal advice in our Parliament, or Attorney-General George Brandis, who wants to restrict his ministerial colleagues' ability to seek legal advice from Mr Gleeson?

On the balance of probability, it is not a hard one to resolve as to who is telling the truth.