Tracey Thomas and Jennifer Lowe have nominated for the Warrnambool City Council election

They will be joined by Christine Thompson, who announced her intention to stand in February.

Ms Thomas, Ms Lowe and Ms Thompson are running independently, but share similar values and reasons for running.

They said they are looking to provide united and strong leadership for Warrnambool.

Ms Thomas runs Liebig street business Chernat’s Lingerie, while Ms Lowe’s has previously served one term on council from 2008 to 2012. 

Ms Lowe said engaging the public in meaningful discussion was a high priority.

She said council needed to actively engage with the community in a positive manner.

“I think we are all after positive change,” Ms Thompson said. 

Good governance is important to Ms Thomas, Ms Lowe and Ms Thompson and all three agreed general business should be re-introduced at the monthly council meetings. 

“We have a strong stance on accountability,” Ms Lowe said.

“With power comes responsibility and the decision makers need to be accountable to the public, to the ratepayers. They should be subject to scrutiny and open to challenge.

“It is in terms of personal and professional responsibility and standards of behaviour as well that are influenced by an individual’s morality, professional standards and the institutional norms within council.”

Ms Thomas said she was running to help move Warrnambool forward.

“After attending council meetings I know that it can be done a whole lot better, that the public deserve better,” Ms Thomas said.

“Communication is very important. We are at a crucial time and I don’t think enough people realise that we are in very different times than we were 20 years ago, and we are sticking with the status quo.

“We are just staying at this conservative level and we can’t do that.

“If we are to sustain this city, we have to be energetic, innovative.” 

Council will enter caretaker mode on September 22, ahead of statewide local government elections on October 22.