Youngster vying for Barker ‘safe seat’
Labor’s candidate for the seat of Barker has had his own name on the ballot before he has even had the opportunity to fill one out himself.
Tanunda’s James Rothe, 20, was four days off turning 18 at the last election, meaning he has not yet had the chance to vote, yet is now vying for the safe Liberal seat of Barker.
The seat is currently held by Liberal MP Tony Pasin and has been since 2013 with Mr Pasin fighting a record nine candidates this election to secure a fifth term.
Rothe said he wants to give the constituents of Barker a “competitive choice”.
“One of the reasons why I wanted to run is to give the people of Barker a real choice. It has been a safe Liberal seat for many years and with safe Liberal seats we do not get much done,” he said.
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“We really need a competitive choice and I believe I provide that for the seat and I hope to listen to constituents over the last week of the campaign in order to listen to their views and what we should do going forward.
“I think I am confident having to go up against him (Tony Pasin) in the election and the main reason for that is he has had four terms as our representative so when you think about what can be done in this electorate, he has had four terms to prove himself.
“When we look at what he may say about me, that has to stack up against his own merits about what he has done for our community.
“I think I provide a fresh perspective; I provide change, and I think that is what this electorate needs.”
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Rothe said that while some people may view his youth as a weakness, he considers it a “real strength”.
“People in this electorate and across the country are struggling to get into the housing market and it is people like myself that are trying to do that,” he said.
“Unlike some of my other candidates who have already bought their houses long ago and do not truly understand the struggles that our young people are facing, I think I understand that because I am going through it myself.
“Obviously job policies are really important to deal with the cost of living at the moment.
“People need secure work, secure jobs, well paid jobs and it is also something Labor has been trying to reinforce the protection of workers in this country and I think that is the number one reason why I am running as a candidate is people need good jobs, secure jobs and I think Labor has a clear plan for that going forward.
“I think one of the things we need to continue and do better is probably more investment in our roads and our road infrastructure.
“Another thing is also health and rural health. Something that we have been doing here in Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast is the Medicare Clinic that we have set up. Obviously there is a lot more work that has to go along with investing in rural health but certainly something that I look to help to strengthen if I am elected.”
This story first appeared in The SE Voice, a partner in the Local & Independent News Association. Read the original story here.
