Constituents will not have to choose their mayor; they will be voted on by the elected councillors at a future council meeting.

Kiama is undivided, meaning there are no wards.

Read more: Your guide to the 2021 Illawarra council elections

Kathy Rice (Greens)

[I have] lived in Kiama for 24 years and am motivated to involve the community in decision making. [I am] passionate about community wellbeing, challenges overdevelopment and seeks solutions to reduce the impact of a changing climate.

[I have] a degree in medical sciences with post graduate diplomas in Health Promotion and Education. [My] career spans medical research, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, community development for health, and secondary teaching.

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[I] was first elected to Kiama Council in 2012 and was deputy mayor between 2016 and 2018. [I am] chair of the Illawarra District Weeds Authority; Healthy Cities Illawarra; SE Zone NSW Public Libraries Association; and represent Kiama on the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation. [I] completed the Executive Certificate for Elected Members in 2018 and graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2020.

[I] appreciates Kiama's alignment with the Healthy Cities movement. Healthy Cities promote active lifestyles and community involvement. They help citizens access community resources to achieve the change they desire at a personal or public level.

[I hope] to oversee improvements in council's responsiveness to community concerns, engage the community in responding to climate change and strive for local neighbourhood revitalisation throughout [my] next council term.

Karen Renkema-Lang (Independent - S.A.F.E. Kiama)

S.A.F.E. Kiama - You're in S.A.F.E. Hands

I am committed to safeguarding our unique community, now and for future generations. I have the skills and practical knowledge to contribute to a new Kiama Council that is sensible with money, accountable with decision making, values fair planning, and champions a responsible stand on the environment.

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I am a volunteer in several council and community groups including the Kiama Council's planning committee. I am a past president of Kiama Central Precinct and the Combined Community Advocacy Group, and I was also the founding chair of the Kiama Community Radio and initiated Kiama's contribution to the Australia wide AUSMAP micro-plastic initiative which has gained international attention and an Eureka Prize for citizen science.

My qualifications include a Bachelor of Information Technology and a Master of Science, (earth and environmental science). I semi-retired after 30 plus years working in the communications and information technology sectors in the federal government.

My professional background plus the experience gained volunteering on local groups, provide a strong and confident basis for me to represent local community members on Kiama Council.

Imogen Draisma (Labor)

The Labor team wants to achieve diversity of our council... and fiscal responsibility at the forefront, especially with what we've seen over the past 12 months.

Neil Reilly (Independent)

[I have] represented the Kiama community as a local councillor since 2008. During this time, [I] served as a board member of the Kiama Board of Tourism, IRIS and the Kiama Community College. In addition, [my] board experience also includes non-executive directorship of ITSOWEL - an Illawarra based, non-profit community organisation, committed to supporting persons of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

As part of [my] background work for more effective local government, [I have] post-graduate qualifications in international relations, and [I] undertook LGNSW's executive certificate for elected members. [I] also studied with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) course for local government and am now a member of AICD.

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[I am] recognised for his ability to align strategic solutions with defined goals, through effective management of projects, people, improvement of processes and striving for high standards of governance.

Historically [my] working life has been in the field of advertising and marketing, with a three-year stint with the Australian Defence Force as a gunner with 8/12 Medium Regiment in the early seventies

[I am] married to Wendy and [we] have three adult children.

Matt Brown (Independent - We Love Kiama Gerringong Jamberoo)

Mark Croxford (Independent - Your Community Candidates)

[I am] a 59-year-old semi-retired corporate and public affairs consultant from Kiama Downs. A strong community volunteer within Kiama's local government area, [I am] a past chair of Kiama's Combined Community Advocacy Group, past chair North Precinct, and immediate past president of the Kiama High School P&C Association. A 20-year Navy veteran, with operational service in Bosnia-Herzegovina, [I] was also a senior ministerial adviser to ministers in the Howard government. As a consultant lobbyist across the three tiers of government [my] clients included ASX listed companies.

[I] also advocate on mental health matters, particularly for veterans. Married to Cath and a father of four, [my] two youngest attended Kiama High with one now at UOW and one undertaking a real estate traineeship in Kiama.

Warren Steel (Independent)

No political parties in local politics is a hallmark of my campaign. The absolute last thing our community needs is a fractious council where decisions are made along party lines and ideologies decided in Sydney or Canberra. I have been a councillor for 25 years, a member of Lions Club for 55 years and was general manager of Wollongong Chamber of Commerce for 10 years.

I was instrumental in acquiring the Akuna St site 8 years ago as the community consistently demanded another supermarket, I am committed to seeing this site reshape Kiama's CBD and provide a vibrant shopping and community space we can all be proud of.

The importance of sound long term budgeting and planning is a focus as is ensuring that our existing revenue streams such as accommodation and the Leisure Centre are operating efficiently, and our service providers stay within budgeted expenditure.

I will use councils' expertise and lobbying ability to apply pressure on state government to upgrade infrastructure such as sewerage, storm water, schools, and roads before approving any substantial residential development throughout the LGA. Currently our infrastructure is at breaking point and needs to be addressed as a matter of priority.

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