Independent vows wealth
Matthew Whitfield has a big challenge ahead, the State election in March.
The father-of-two is running as an independent candidate for the seat of Rockingham at the poll, and will have to beat State Opposition leader and incumbent Mark McGowan in his quest to be elected to Parliament.
At the 2008 election, Mr McGowan won by 20 per cent (60-40) on a twoparty preferred basis and has held the seat since 1996.
Mr Whitfield will need every vote he can muster because his home in Warnbro is located just outside the boundary for the Rockingham electorate, which means he cannot vote for himself at the election in 66 days time.
The 36-year-old, who has worked as a mobile disc jockey, cruise ship director, police officer and more recently a property investor, said he was not daunted by the task and his motivation for throwing his hat in the political ring was to get the two major parties to pay more attention to the electorate.
Mr Whitfield said high unemployment and law and order were issues that needed to be addressed in Rockingham.
“I’m not talking Port Kennedy, I’m not talking Baldivis, I’m talking here,” he said.
Mr Whitfield said his campaign slogan was “a healthier and wealthier Rockingham”.
He hoped if he could take some votes away from Labor and Liberals, it would make the two parties give Rockingham more consideration.
“With a serious message, that would force the other parties to listen to Rockingham,” he said.
