MOUNT Isa mayoral candidate Chris Boshoff wants to address one thing straight off the bat.
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“Anyone talking to me will know my origins are not Australian,” Mr Boshoff said.
“Despite that I consider myself a local and here’s why: we made a conscious decision to live in Mount Isa because we love it.”
Mr Boshoff and his family came from South Africa in 2009 and he said that after research on where to live they decided the big city life was not for them.
“We found the lure of the expansive and beautiful landscape in the North West and the promise of opportunities in the outback, had a far greater appeal,” he said.
He got a job in Mount Isa and quickly fell in love with the region.
“This love of country and Mount Isa was consolidated on Australia Day 2014 when I was sworn in as an Australian citizen,” he said.
“I now wear the green and gold with pride and support Australia in all sports, even the rugby.”
Mr Boshoff said he had 15 years of project management experience and business ownership in South Africa.
“I can relate to the challenges facing local businesses and through my previous role with the Mount Isa Water Board, I’ve come to understand and appreciate the significance of this resource and the vital role it plays to the city and the wider region,” he said.
Mr Boshoff said he has got involved with local organisations such as Rotary and is a volunteer board for the Mount Isa Rodeo.
“I have learned a great deal about the heart and soul of the Isa and its people,” he said.
“Mount Isa has a huge untapped resource that goes well beyond our mine and tourism has the potential to be nurtured and grown into a booming industry.
“I have a vision to see Mount Isa thrive.”
Mr Boshoff said he had made the conscious decision to run independently rather than with a team of councillors.
“I wanted to demonstrate how important I feel it is to maintain independence from team politics which have become a feature of council business,” he said.
“I strongly maintain that if we are to see growth and prosperity for Mount Isa, it is necessary for mayoral candidates to remain independent from councillor candidates.
“Their duty is to constituents and the community not politics.”
