Former rugby player vies for Hagen mayor seat

 By JAMES GUMUNO

A FORMER inter-city and bemobile Cup rugby league player is among the 31 candidates contesting the Mt Hagen mayor’s seat in this year’s local level government elections.

He is Billy Gau, who played for the Hagen Eagles, Enga Mioks and Mendi Muruks.

Gau sometimes ran Duma’s league at Gomis oval and brought up many players to play for the Kumuls and in the Digicel Cup.

He said he put his hands up for a change of leadership in the city to bring back the glory days.

He said he wanted to ensure public utilities such as toilets, bus stops, street lights and recreational areas were put in place.

Gau said people from outside coming into the city should feel safe and free to move around and spend their money there.

He said he would be looking into the problems faced by people living in settlements where they did not have a proper water supply, lights and ensure they live in a healthy environment.

He said he would work with the chamber of commerce to ensure they operated without fear and in a peaceful environment.

“As a young, energetic leader, I have confidence in myself to change the image of the city to where it was in the 1980s,” he said.

Gau said the city needed strong leadership to run its affairs and provide essential services to taxpayers.

He appealed to other candidates and their supporters for a peaceful campaign and called for respect for people when they went into polling.