With first hand experience as a local councillor, Annemarie McCabe of Drouin said she knew what local people needed and the way to deliver that was to make Narracan marginal.
As an independent, Ms McCabe wanted to give people options when they voted.
"Being on council, I understand what the issues are. I nominated because safe Liberal seats do not get much attention when it comes to funding. I nominated to win," she said.
An ambulance paramedic, Ms McCabe was elected to Baw Baw Shire Council in 2020 and is the current mayor. She took leave of absence from council when she nominated as a candidate.
"As a local independent and the mayor of Baw Baw Shire I understand the issues.
"Strong advocacy for our growing community is needed, calling for increased funding to provide infrastructure and services.
"My aim is to make Narracan a contested seat. We all know safe seats are not priorities for government," she said.
Ms McCabe said the biggest issue facing West Gippsland communities was rapid growth and how all levels of government could keep pace with that growth to provide infrastructure and services.
At the top of the infrastructure list, she said, was beginning construction of the promised new West Gippsland Hospital.
Other priority projects for the electorate are: improved arterial road networks including new roundabouts, drainage solutions for low lying areas prone to flooding and update flood mapping.
She said residents also needed improved access to mental health services as wait times were too high for local services.
Ms McCabe said she would advocate for funding toward new libraries and community connection spaces as well as more and more recreation spaces including sporting precincts.
In the education sector, she said Narracan needed more kindergartens and a new public secondary college to cater for the rapidly growing population.
Ms McCabe also would like to see improved public transport as well as economic development and jobs growth.
"Given that the state election is pretty much done and dusted, the ALP is in power, it will be difficult for the Member of Narracan to enact change.
"That being said, if elected, I will use any opportunity, question time, crossing paths in the halls, meeting up with members etc. to raise issues.
Ms McCabe said her first priority was putting Narracan front and centre to see increased government spending including construction of the new hospital.