Mr Purtill, 48, and his herbalist wife Angie moved to Warrnambool from Geelong four years ago.

He's now standing as a Democratic Labour Party candidate for the seat of South West Coast.

He runs his own small business delivering spray free and organic fruit and vegetables from Warrnambool to Koroit, Hamilton, Heywood, Portland and  Port Fairy.

"We love it here, it's  bloody fantastic," he said.

"We moved here without jobs. We came here on holidays by chance. I would walk down the street here and people would smile at me, I thought I must have spilled something on my shirt. 

"In the end out I worked out that the people here are just nice."

Mr Purtill said he loved the ocean, could put up with the wind and Warrnambool was a clean environment.

 "I think the ocean breeze is a cleanser. It's wetter and greener climate.

"We love it. It's the best thing we've ever done," he said.

Mr Purtill said he was a greater believer that supporting the family unit, in whatever its form, led to the best outcomes for the community and individuals.

He believes Warrnambool and the south-west deserve an honest, strong representative who stands up for the local residents on the important issues.

Mr Purtill has a work background in international hotel management as well as social welfare. 

He said his key issues included roads, job creation, support for business, stronger prospects for young people, subsidised housing for those in real need and removal of the Safe Schools program.

Last Friday it was announced that Terry Riggs, of Carpendeit, was standing for the Victorian Socialists.

The other candidates for South West Coast poll on Saturday, November 24, are Roma Britnell (Liberals), Kylie Gaston (Labor), James Purcell (independant), Michael Neoh (independant), Jim Doukas (Country Party), Tom Campbell (The Greens).