Greater Geraldton councillor candidate Jenna Denton confident and committed to community

After working across youth, social enterprise, project management and now in State Government, councillor nominee Jenna Denton is ready to pursue local government to help take her community service to the next level. Ms Denton is not shy to admit there is work to be done to make local government more accessible to women, young people and First Nations people. She is one of two women in the upcoming Greater Geraldton election, and the only female running for council, while Tammy Croasdale positions herself in the mayoral race. “Encouragement to participate needs to be driven by leadership and council itself. If I am elected I will be influencing the development of a Youth Council which will open a new door for young men, women, CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse), lived experience and Indigenous community members to formally contribute to local council,“ she said. Ms Denton’s motivation to run for council stems from her investment in community. “Local government is a great opportunity to continue my work with and for community, to contribute to the opportunities, challenges, progress, and needs of our region,” she said. Despite being up against four existing councillors, Ms Denton is confident in her abilities and not concerned about voter turnout, given the election will be done via postal vote and is not mandatory. “It is my intention to engage a new demographic and cohort to not only vote, but continue to understand and positively engage with local council moving forward,” she said, The research officer’s diverse working experience has seen her as a passionate advocate for healthcare, mental health, alcohol and drug awareness and suicide prevention. The lifelong Geraldton resident is a wife, and mother of two teenagers, and said her favourite spot in the city is the beach. “Our kids were beach babies, we spend most of our summer there with family and friends, and a dip in the ocean, watching the surf or taking a sunset walk, always takes away the stresses of life,” she said. Ms Denton insists she has a vested interest in the City as well as a comprehensive understanding of the role she is campaigning to undertake. She simply put her hand up because she wants more voices in her community to be heard and the needs of the region taken into account.