City of Greater Geraldton election candidates: Hari Kumar views council role as next chapter of giving back

Ever since calling Geraldton home with his family more than 17 years ago, Hari Kumar has been motivated by a desire to give back to his adopted community — a wish he has fulfilled many times over. But now he says he’s ready to go to the next level of community representation and has put his hand up for a seat on the City of Greater Geraldton council. After moving to Australia in 2005 to do his Masters of Public Health at Curtin University, Mr Kumar settled in Geraldton in 2008, building up an impressive CV of community service and volunteer work ever since. He has been the chair of the local drug action group and midnight basketball association, helped establish the liquor accord committee, on the board of Lotteries House and school boards. Mr Kumar has been actively involved in the Mid West Multicultural Association for 16 years and founded and was a past president of the Mid West Indian Cultural Society. The public sector health worker and father of three vowed, if elected to one of the four vacant seats on council, to bring professionalism, energy and a fresh way of thinking to the role. Although he says having a variety of voices from all walks of life on council was important, he does not want to play “the diversity card”. “I come in with the mentality of giving back to the community,” Mr Kumar said. “ I’ve given back to the society I live in, that’s my main motivation for running for council. “Diversity is very much a good thing and I think multiculturalism is the fabric of Australia. I’ve been an ambassador of multicultural Geraldton for the past 18 years, I stand by that. But I don’t want to play the diversity card to get on the council. Mr Kumar listed his priorities as a focus on youth wellbeing and engagement — which he believed would lead to a reduction in boredom crime — coastal erosion, a greener, more welcoming city, with more lighting, security cameras and public art. “I am a community person not a politician. I am someone who wants the betterment of society and I believe when I do something it is always a selfless act, it is always for the greater picture. I have had a good life, and want the future also to be good by equipping the youth with good morals and values in life,” he said. Mr Kumar said “as a ratepayer who struggles every year with the increase in rates I am very much with the community when it comes to rate rises.” “We need to look at where we can cut costs within the council and keep the rates stable for a couple of years at least for the people who are paying these high amounts,” he said. Mr Kumar said recent anti-immigration marches had stirred up a lot of emotions and he wanted to remind some people that migrants “bring a lot of value to our society”. “One of the reasons for me to put my hand up is because I wanted to be a representative within my local council as a migrant who moved here and made a life and gave back to this community,” he said. Mr Kumar urged people to exercise their right to vote and to be a good example to their children, teaching them the importance of living in a democratic society. “If you want somebody who’s going to be out there working for you, listening to you and trying to make a change for you, I think you need to vote and you need to vote for change,” he said.