A conversation I had this week with a long-serving former northern Tasmanian councillor confirmed what many of our readers already suspect: local government is suffering a crisis of leadership, governance, and purpose.

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Our councils should be a leading community asset; instead, too many in northern Tasmania have descended into toxic arenas, full of grievance and personal animosity.

Codes of conduct, originally designed to enforce integrity, are now too often used as tools of control against political rivals.

Capable, talented residents who are contemplating running for election at the upcoming local government polls look at the toxicity and ask the obvious question: Why would I willingly subject myself to that environment?

That dynamic must end now. As northern Tasmania approaches the upcoming council elections, candidates seeking to represent our communities, whether as councillors or mayors, cannot be allowed to float into office on hollow slogans and voter apathy.

Northern Tasmanian communities do not need ideological operators using council chambers as a stepping stone to state parliament. We need lateral, constructive thinkers who understand collaborative governance, candidates who bring fully formed, workable policies to the........

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