The Logan City Local Government Elections scheduled for March 16 will see seven of the 12 divisions go to the polls.

Here, candidates for Division 5 were given the same questions and below are their answers. This will give a little more insight into who they are.

1. Tell Logan about yourself.

Sovannary UK – I’ve lived in the local area for more than 20 years. I have owned the local fish and chip shop in Marsden for nearly two decades. My wife and I have worked hard every day to build our life in Logan. Our home is here, our family is here, and our friends are here.

This community helped me, and now it is my turn to step up and repay that support and friendship. During this time, I have also been a community leader and volunteer helping local people wherever and whenever I can.

Paul Jackson – I’m Paul Jackson, your local candidate for Division 5 at the upcoming Logan City Council elections on 16 March 2024.

I’m a life-long Logan resident. I’ve been married to Charmain for 32 years and we have raised five children who are now all in their twenties and we have our fourth grandchild on the way.

I have been actively involved in community service since childhood when my parents included us kids in all the work they did in the community. It was something I loved and it became something I have enjoyed doing full time for the last 25 years.

My latest community ventures have been: 

Logan Connect (fka Park Ridge Connect) a not-for-profit community service organisation of which I am the founding President, and

Logan West News, which I started in 2018 to celebrate the people, places and events that make Logan West a great place to live.

Zoe McDonnell – Failed to reply to email questions.

2.      Why are you interested in our community?

Sovannary UK – I am part of our local community and my interest in the community comes from the support I received from local people at the very beginning of my life in Logan City.

Paul Jackson – I’m passionate about building a community where residents feel safe, consulted, and included, and are given every opportunity to live a healthy and joyful life.

Whether you’re young, growing a family or in your senior years, connecting residents to the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need for their best life is what gets me up in the morning.

Zoe McDonnell – Failed to reply to email questions.

3. Why did you decide to run?

Sovannary UK – I decided to run for Division 5 because I wanted to repay a great debt I feel, for the support and friendship I have enjoyed. I want to support our local community and continue my work for my neighbourhood.

I want to continue my role of supporter of people who need a fair go from all levels of government including Council. I want to be the people’s voice in Council rather than the Council’s voice in the community. I feel that this is a very important difference.

Former Mayor and Division 5 Councillor Graham Able and current Division 5 Councillor and Mayoral candidate Jon Raven have both encouraged me to run and offered me their full support.

Paul Jackson – As a small business owner and community advocate, I have a proven record of helping residents with day to day concerns and delivering solutions in difficult times. However, there is more to be done and I am convinced that I can do more as your councillor to deliver for you and our community.

Zoe McDonnell – Failed to reply to email questions.

4. What do you think is the most important skill of being a good councillor?

Sovannary UK – I have twenty years’ experience talking to and listening to my customers and discussing their concerns. I enjoy being able to help when I can, or to provide some direction to the people who can help.

Other people’s money, Logan City Council is a huge business, employing thousands of people and spending many millions of public dollars. In my business I don’t waste a dollar, and I want to see the Logan City Council operate the same way.

Having watched former Councillor Graham Able in action for many years, I believe his approach of continual contact with the residents of the Division is an invaluable skill and one I hope to model myself on.  

Paul Jackson – Listening.

My approach to community development is open, inclusive and empowering:

• Consult the people most impacted by the problem or change.
• Collaborate with solution oriented stakeholders.
• Communicate, both in giving good information to residents and receiving timely feedback.
• Celebrate our wins together as a community.

Zoe McDonnell – Failed to reply to email questions.

5. What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

Sovannary UK – Apart from the obvious, I have lived and worked in the heart of this community every day for twenty years. I have witnessed the changes this area has undergone, and I often meet people who I first met as primary school students and others who were raising their families locally and are now enjoying their retirement.

Paul Jackson – Leadership.

While I am a hard worker with big ideas and plenty of enthusiasm, I never work alone. Empowering people to be part of the solution in the things they care about is my driving passion.

When I say ‘Leadership’ I’m talking about servant leadership. The kind that asks, “What’s strong with you?” and looks to build around the strengths and passions of the people we are doing life with so that we can do more together.

Zoe McDonnell – Failed to reply to email questions.

6. What would you like to see happen in your division over the next 4 years?

Sovannary UK – I would really like to see an increase in facilities for community use. By this I mean areas where families and community groups can enjoy themselves in a safe environment, for example public spaces could be utilised to have open air movie nights and different groups could meet and build a stronger community.

 Locals have been telling me for years that kids don’t have enough to do after school. I am committed to creating places where teenagers can spend time after school and on the weekends to keep out of trouble.

I would also like to see a big reduction in illegal hooning and unlawful dumping of rubbish on footpaths, parks, and bushland.  

I will work for better public transport across Logan city. North – South bus services can be improved, but what we desperately need are new East -West bus services to get people where they want to go.

Paul Jackson – There are few hot issues that I would like to get solved like:

• Muchow Rd, Waterford West and surrounding pain points from school traffic congestion.
• Bumstead Rd, Crestmead resurfacing and fixing the flooded path over Schmidts Creek.
• A bus stops for Berrinba residents.
• Roll out a footpath plan for older estates that didn’t have footpaths included in the development.
• Reduce neighbourhood street hooning.
• Increase household security against crime.

But more generally, I want residents to be empowered to be part of the solution in their own neighbourhoods rather than frustrated by bureaucratic blockages.

Zoe McDonnell – Failed to reply to email questions.

7. Why should voters cast their ballot for you?

Sovannary UK – I will continue to work hard every day for the people of Division 5, continuing the legacy of hard work delivered by Graham Able and Jon Raven.

Paul Jackson – I have a proven, life-long track record of leading, building and serving in the Logan community, and I am ready to work with and for the residents of Division 5 on the issues that are important to them.

Zoe McDonnell – Failed to reply to email questions.

8. Anything extra you would like to add?

Sovannary UK –

Paul Jackson – Vote 1 – Paul Jackson:)

Zoe McDonnell – Failed to reply to email questions.

Follow Sovannary Uk – Paul Jackson – Zoe McDonnell

NOTE: All candidates were sent the same email asking the same questions. Their direct responses have been published. One candidate failed to reply.