Bendigo elections 2020: Michelle Goldsmith to run for council for a second time

The 51-year-old Sailors Gully resident is campaigning on principles of diversity, inclusion, equity and action on climate change.

Ms Goldsmith received 9.69 per cent of first preference votes in 2016.

She was eager to stand again this year, before changes to the Local Government Act meant Greater Bendigo had to go back to single member wards.

Ms Goldsmith is running in the Whipstick Ward.

The Greens-endorsed candidate said she cared about progressive, collaborative and representative local government.

She saw links between a healthy ecology and a healthy community.

"I'm interested in the health aspects of maintaining our environment, particularly in the context of climate emergency," Ms Goldsmith said.

She believed decisions needed to be couched in the context of climate emergency.

The mother of three identified waste management and renewable processes as issues of interest.

"There are a lot of things we need to get right, in terms of how our future looks. I think just getting involved in local government is a good way to start participating in those kinds of decisions," Ms Goldsmith said.

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She believed the culture of the Bendigo region, and its demographics, were changing.

"I think it's a fantastic things and a fantastic opportunity,' Ms Goldsmith said.

She said gender equity was a big issue, and one she wanted to address.

"The status of women in society and some of the norms we accept around that are really problematic," Ms Goldsmith said.

"Those sorts of things need to evolve so we see where the foundations for fairness in society come from."

She harked back to the fact a councillor had resigned over a gender equity issue within the current council's term, following backlash to "what I thought were fairly obvious statements around what respect for women is and what gender equity actually means."

"I just think Bendigo can be a place that prioritises fairness and respect," Ms Goldsmith said.

"I'd really like to be involved in those kids of decisions around that."

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She was also keen to act on people's wishes for open spaces, public infrastructure, and supports for service and sporting groups.

"I think council is still predominantly made up of retired business people and it's another reason to put your hand up and say if I'm going to talk about lack of diversity, particularly in decision-making, maybe I'd better put my hand up," Ms Goldsmith said.

She is a member of the Greens and said she had been been involved in campaigns at all three levels of government for about a decade.

Other Whipstick Ward candidates include Dave Fagg, Thomas Prince, Kathryn Stanislawski and Pauline Murtagh.

Councillors Andrea Metcalf, James Williams and Malcolm Pethybridge currently represent the Whipstick Ward.

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