With the grandson of Rex Connor snr set to be endorsed as the ALP's candidate for Wollongong lord mayor, an interesting choice will be presented to voters on September 3.Are the good burghers of Wollongong and Shellharbour going to support overtly political candidates or instead seek out community-based candidates and independents, whatever the latter means?Labor is in an invidious position. It deserves the scorn of citizens at many levels.Earlier this year, the incompetent and scandal-ridden former state government got what it deserved - an apocalyptic shellacking at the polls.At a local government level, the caucusing of Labor members in Wollongong received attention three years ago during the ICAC public hearings. Counsel assisting the inquiry, Noel Hemmings, remarked the outcomes of caucus meetings had the effect of interfering in the decision-making processes of the council."It has appeared from the evidence, which has transpired to date, in order for there to be complete control of the council, a developer only needs to obtain the support of four councillors to be in control of caucus who then controls the whole council," he said.Checks and balances have been put in place, but the people of Wollongong ought to fear any reprise of block voting - from any party. This goes for Shellharbour, where a caucus of Labor councillors was known to deliberate on issues and anyone who voted differently in the council chambers risked expulsion from the party.This constitutes bad local government. Party members should not be excluded from running. But most residents simply want to elect community-minded people who will judge matters on their merit, not according to a political agenda.Voters need to know who's who in the zoo. Most candidates are acknowledging their political affiliations and by next week we will see the formation of tickets. Certainly where candidates have a political background and do not disclose that, and this includes "independents", we will out them.And when ballot papers are finally distributed, voters can decide exactly how much politics they want with their civic affairs.