Council candidate Adam Roberts.
THE race for the mayor's job is hotting up.
This follows a minor scrap unfolding after last Saturday's Residents Action Network meeting held in Port Macquarie.
Following the meeting, mayoral and councillor candidate Adam Roberts fired off an email trying to link the Wauchope based former councillor Lisa Intemann to the Greens and RAN. He also questioned her 'independence'.
Mr Roberts said events at the meeting led him to believe that RAN were closely and strongly affiliated to the Greens while Ms Intemann was too closely aligned with both organisations and had suggested a preference deal was 'already in place'.
"Two questions I still have burning in my mind after that meeting are, Why is RAN supporting one of its committee members' appointment as a 'campaign director' for the Greens ticket even though they claim to be an 'independent' organisation 'free from political influence'? And, is a vote for Lisa Intemann a vote for a RAN, Greens, Intemann alignment and is there a preference deal already in place to this effect?
"I believe the general public have had enough of back room deals and 'covert' alignments and I believe the general public should be provided answers on the above questions well before voting day in the interests of full transparency."
But Ms Intemann said she simply 'works with everyone for the benefit of this local community'.
"I have good working relations with people across all party lines, and non-aligned individuals," she said.
"I am standing as an individual.
"Naturally I have been approached to give preferences but have not decided at this stage if i will (give preferences).
"I have friends in both places (Greens, and RAN) but I have friends in the National, the Liberal and the Labor Parties as well.
"I work with everyone for the benefit of this local community."
Ms Intemann said she could assure the community she would work openly and that there had been no back room deals.
"It is time for council to dispense with a 'them and us' attitude and work constructively for the future."
RAN's spokesperson was more blunt.
"Utter rubbish," said spokesperson Penny Marshall.
"One of our RAN committee members is assisting The Greens for this election. Another committee member is a supporter of the Greens ... each of us in RAN have our own politics and it is not brought into meetings.
"We strive really hard to remain apolitical leading into these election. And we have chosen not to run a RAN ticket so as to remain impartial," she said.
"RAN must, and does, remain impartial."