VETERAN Fremantle city councillor Bill Massie is keeping quiet about whether he’ll seek re-election to Hilton ward in October.

But two challengers aren’t as shy: new face Jeff McDonald is putting his hat in the ring, and former councillor Frank Acocella says he’s also a likely starter (he last ran in 2013, failing to unseat Sam Wainwright).

Mr McDonald says his broad range of political views most closely align with Labor and the Greens. He says he’s keen to “continue to build on the sustainable transport work that the current council has been developing and plan seriously around the changing needs of our city and suburbs”.

He works at Fremantle hospital, managing the medical workforce. He studied sport science, plays guitar, paints and is semi-fluent in Cantonese.

“Tthrough the transition of Fremantle hospital I have noticed big chances in Fremantle and its surrounds, and I’m eager to bring a population of workers back into the city,” he says.

“Many small businesses are suffering due to the reduction in customers and clientele, and it’s going to take an increase of at least 2000 new workers in our city to bring us back to the previous income opportunities workers bring.”

Mr McDonald believes community health impacts of not providing public green space for urban infill require urgent attention.

He says people should have the right to develop their land “however with extra infill (and population) we need better services such as varied park uses, maintained public equipment, increased safety measures and community support services and better public transport across the outer suburbs”.

Mr Acocella, meanwhile, says he’s interested in giving locals “back the services we had 20 years ago” and wants the council to butt out of national issues.

He says the council is too cosy for his liking and he wants to shake up the “echo chamber” where they all agree with each other: “There are no alternative views put forward,” he says, lamenting the lack of creative tension.

A long-retired teacher and customs officer, he says he votes Liberal but wouldn’t describe himself as “rusted on”.

An enthusiastic user of Twitter, Mr Acocella’s political views on global issues like climate change are undisputed: “I personally believe it’s a scam,” he says.

He has some sympathy with the Reclaim Australia movement, particularly its concerns about halal certification and “extremists”: ”I’m not saying it’s all of them,” he stresses. “Most of them are probably happy to get along with present Australia—but there does seem to be a few extremists that the media picks up that gives the impression they want sharia law.”

However, he says he’d leave his broader political views at the door and make decisions on local factors.

by DAVID BELL