Former Goulburn mayor Kettle running for Farmer's protest party

Mr Kettle could prove to be the high-profile conservative candidate that the Liberal cause needs in the Belconnen seat, which has been a Labor stronghold.

Mr Farmer announces his candidates on Wednesday, but Mr Kettle has already changed his Linked-in profile to declare his candidacy.

After six years as Goulburn mayor, Mr Kettle decided not to stand again this year, and moved to Canberra in February, where he lives in the city and his wife works in the private sector. He said he knew of Mr Farmer because "everybody knows who Richard Farmer is", but had not met him until Mr Farmer called him a week ago asking whether he would stand.

Needing a job, he said yes. He finished up as mayor last Friday and resigned from the Liberal Party on Tuesday.

Mr Kettle said while he was member of the Liberal Party and a former staffer of federal Liberal MP Alby Schultz, he would not have stood as a Liberal.

"The ACT government is a big local government area, it's a big council and I think too much politics in local government is not good. I was very very proud that I ran a non-aligned council. There were no factions, it was very independent and it did what it was supposed to do, that is govern for the whole community."

Asked why he had decided to stand, Mr Kettle said, "Basically because I didn't have a job and I keep a close eye on the ACT because I'm living here now. I have a certain view on the way that the ACT government's performing. I take a strong stance on openness and transparency, government contracts, government purchasing. I think the ACT should have an ICAC. I'm not a strong supporter of the tram at all, we don't know what that's going to cost."

Mr Farmer's Canberra Community Voters party grew out of his work for the clubs against the casino's bid to get poker machines. Among other organisers are former NSW Auditor General Tony Harris and Peter Moore, both of whom fought the Manuka Oval redevelopment bid this year.

The party wants "an end to the secret dealings" on land and a corruption commission.

Mr Kettle said he had "a big problem" with the plan for poker machines in the casino.

"If we ruin our local clubs by opening poker machines in the casino, it could ruin heaps of things, including the Canberra Raiders and including our kids' sport."

Mr Kettle is a fourth-generation Goulburn resident who has owned the newsagency at Marulan since 1999, but sold the business last year. He has also lived in Canberra, including when he was in the police force in the early 1980s and worked in finance for a number of car dealers.

A profile on the Goulburn Regional Conservatorium website quotes Mr Kettle as a keen musician, following his childhood passions for dance, singing and piano, even considering a dance career.

Mr Farmer said the party would stand candidates in Ginninderra and in the central seat of Kurrajong. he would announce the line-up outside the Land Development Agency in Dickon on Wednesday.

Mr Kettle was "the perfect candidate", Mr Farmer said.

"He will be very good member. Canberra could well do with a decent man, it's about the size of a reasonable city council, and I'd rather have someone who would rather be a mayor than an international grandstander," Mr Farmer said.