Greens mayoral candidate John Brown describes the impending battle to win the position as a marathon.
But the long-distance runner and competitor in this year’s London marathon is not afraid of the challenge.
He concedes the task of defeating incumbent mayor Peter Blackmore at the September election will be difficult, but his objective is to generate a higher profile for the Greens in a city that has resisted the swing towards the party.
A former independent councillor, Mr Brown, 60, said he was attracted to the Greens because it was socially and environmentally aware but, most importantly, it had brought a new wave of honesty to politics.
He joined the party “four or five years ago”.
But he is unlikely to be found chained to a tree.
“I describe myself as a conservative Green,” the grandfather said.
Indeed, part of Mr Brown’s candidacy was to dispel the extremist image of the Greens and heighten its profile as a party that was environmentally aware, socially conscious and with a focus on the future, rather than the next election.
He said Maitland was “dragging the chain a little bit” in the swing to the party at State and Federal level.
“I was attracted to the Greens party because I believe in honesty in politics,” Mr Brown said.
“I agreed with the Greens’ policies and I loved the fact they spoke honestly and truthfully.
“I get really sick and tired of the fear people have for voting Green.
“Here I am, I’m an ordinary bloke. I lead an ordinary life.
“If you believe in recycling, if you turn off the lights when you’re not using them, if you’re concerned about the future, then you’re as Green as I am.
“I want to get this message across to other people: don’t be afraid to vote Green.”
It was perhaps Mr Brown’s experience as a member of the city’s sacked council in 1997 that led to an enhanced focus on honesty in politics.
He served the city as an independent councillor from 1991 until the State Government dissolved the council.
He ran the following term, but was defeated by Peter Blackmore.
Mr Brown, of Bolwarra, said the experience made him a stronger candidate this time around, after a period of ill health that led to a re-evaluation of politics and a passion for long distance running.
“It was the most stressful time of my life,” he said.
“It affected my health for years.
“But it has made me look more closely at politics and what goes on in politics.”
And so, Mr Brown hopes to make his return under a new Greens banner in central ward.
When he ran in 1991, he continued a family involvement in local government (both his grandfather and father were Cessnock mayors), motivated by issues affecting the city, including the need for a third Hunter River crossing.
This time around, traffic chaos and the city’s rapid growth are high on his agenda.
“I’m not happy with Maitland at the moment.
“I’m not happy with the chaos on our streets today.
“I drive a car because I have to, but I think we need better infrastructure; I’m not saying we need more roads.
“Public transport is one of the answers but I think the answer to getting more traffic off the road is going to be petrol prices.
“We’re going to need better public transport because people will be forced off the roads.
“I’d love to see a better bus service in Maitland – that is a critical point for me.”
Maitland’s growth would also continue under Green leadership.
“It’ll be a different type of growth,” Mr Brown said.
“The one thing I’m really concerned about in Maitland is jobs - jobs for the future.
“It’s a matter of working with developers to build the right kind of development.
“It is achievable but the pinch is the will and the commitment to do it. That’s what the Greens can provide.”
Which brings the subject back to Mr Brown’s mission to put the Greens at the forefront of voters’ minds in September.
“Winning the mayoralty is almost an impossible task, but I’m confident in the ward election,” he said.
“I’m throwing everything into it.
“The Greens deserve to have a good name in this city and I’ll do my bit to raise their profile and encourage people to have faith in the party.”
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