Capalaba local and award-winnng community advocate James Farrell OAM has announced he will stand for Redland City Council in the March election.
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Mr Farrell said he was standing for the division nine seat because of a strong community focus.
"Community is really important to me," he said.
"It's why I quit working as a corporate lawyer in a large Eagle Street law firm to work in community legal centres and it's why I'm standing for council."
Mr Farrell, who received an Order of Australia Medal in 2014, worked with the homeless before leading Community Legal Centres Queensland for six years.
"It was a role which required strong negotiation skills and an understanding of all levels of government," he said.
"I learned how to work with all political parties, from ministers to advisors to cross-benchers to councillors, to influence laws, policies and public services.
''I still work in the community sector, at a well-known health charity, helping Queenslanders who are doing it tough, and I'm on several voluntary committees in Redlands and across Queensland."
It was that experience, Mr Farrell said, which compelled him to nominate for council.
"I'm looking forward to making a positive difference to people living in the Redlands."
Mr Farrell's OAM was for service to the community, particularly through social welfare and legal access programs.
He won a Churchill Fellowship and travelled to England, Canada and the USA in 2015 to learn more about community organising and campaigning for change.
Mr Farrell and wife Amanda have two children. Jack is 11 and Georgie is nine.
They attend a local primary school.
"Our kids train for sport during the week, and play every weekend, at council-owned community facilities and we're great users of other council-run facilities like our libraries, cultural services and parks," Mr Farrell said.
"There's lots of room for improvement, without the need for council rates to spiral out of control.
"I'm putting my hand up for division nine at the 2020 Redlands City Council election to work alongside my community.
"I'm focused on building a supported and connected community, with better services and infrastructure that provides more places and spaces for the Redlands community to come together.
''Together we're stronger, and I'm looking forward to working alongside my local community on our shared priorities, so that I can be part of a council that balances our community's needs and future growth with our environment, in the context of a fairer rating system."
Adelia Berridge and Allison Wicks will contest the division nine seat at the election. Rowanne McKenzie is running in the division seven seat, which takes in Capalaba, Cleveland, Alexandra Hills and Thornlands.
Nurse Irene Henley will contest the divison two seat, which takes in Cleveland and North Stradbroke Island, and the proposed Toondah Harbour development.
Callen Sorensen Karklis will also contest division two.
Engineer Claire Richardson will run for mayor at the elections.
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