But he would not yet rule himself out of the race, saying he needed to be sure Mr Rorris was the best person to represent the city.

‘‘I think it’s rather exciting that we’ve got another candidate, someone of Arthur’s calibre who is prepared to put up his hand for the seat of Wollongong,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

‘‘But I want to know how he is going to accommodate the needs of business and that end of town, because he comes from representing labour interests.’’

‘‘It’s not done and dusted yet, but ... if Arthur ticks the boxes and is prepared to articulate the needs and directions of this city, then I’m quite prepared to back away.’’

Cr Bradbery praised Mr Rorris as educated, intelligent and articulate, but said he would be speaking to him about how he would ‘‘represent people, not a sectional interest’’.

‘‘I think I’ve got a harder competitor in Arthur than I do Noreen Hay,’’ he said.

Candidate nominations are due in the first week of March, which would only give Cr Bradbery three weeks to campaign before the March 28 poll if he continues to be tight-lipped about his candidacy.

However, he said he did not think this would be a disadvantage for someone with his profile.

‘‘It’s not as if I’m coming from behind and nobody knows who I am, and I think they’re also aware of what I stand for,’’ he said.

‘‘I just want to make sure that we don’t waste this opportunity, which could mean I will back away in the interests of someone I think is fairly capable.

‘‘That’s what we want – not Bradbery, not Arthur Rorris – but someone who is going to do the job for us.’’