Tom is a passionate member of the community, with this December marking 50 years of him working at Court Press and believes in transparency in local government.

"I believe we need to know more about what is happening before it happens, not after. We are not mushrooms; we are told very little until after it happens and we are expected to accept this," he said.

Along with wanting to promote more transparency Tom is passionate about developing a culture which develops innovation and delivering services and products which meet the expectations of citizens today and into the future.

"Forbes' future lies in developing methods of value adding, in agriculture, in manufacturing, in services and in regional tourism."

Tom said the town must not only be vigilant in retaining the services we have, such as health, hospital and police services, but be prepared ti fight to keep improving them.

Tom is passionate about all aspects of his local community and has spent several decades volunteering with a variety of community organisations and groups to help improve the town.

Among the groups and committees he has served on includes Forbes Swim and Gym committee, Forbes Rotary Club, Forbes Rugby Union Club, Forbes Flood Committee; Forbes Chamber of Commerce, Advertising and Signs structures committee, Forbes Learning Ladder and Forbes Childcare Centre committees and many more.

Tom said he joined so many committees and community groups because he enjoyed seeing things happen and enjoyed working with people who wanted to move things.

Along with decades of community involvement across a wide variety of groups and organisations, Tom has previously served as a Forbes Shire Councillor for eight years from 1991 to 1998.

Along with serving previously as a Councillor, Tom has served in other government organisations including as Chairman of the NSW Waste Management Customer Council, on the Australia Day Committee, serving on the Tourism and Promotion committee and on an Industry and Development committee.

If elected, Tom aims to apply all of his prior experience to find out what the community wants and to try and deliver it.

As part of this goal, Tom believes more community consultation should take place where necessary, display all policies and develop more frameworks to support community engagement.

Among the key areas where he believes the community demand more action on traffic, rubbish, noise, health and safety.

"There is an increase in social issues and forces shaping the future of the public sector in Australia and globally," he said.

"Councils can't predict the future, so Council should invent it. Council should be a facilitator and coordinator, not a provider."

As part of this, Tom said Council should work with community to achieve what they want, rather than Council just saying this is what you get.

"We have a unique lifestyle here, let's see that we maintain and try to improve it," he said.