John Arkan, a blueberry farmer from Woolgoolga and Australia’s first Sikh Councillor, has confirmed running for the a seat in the New South Wales (NSW) in the 2 July Federal elections
Arkan was first elected as a council member of the Coffs Harbour City Council in 2008. He served as deputy mayor in 2012-2013 and is one of the six candidates running for the Cowper seat.
He is the third generation of his family to live in the district, the area around Woolgoolga having a significant Sikh population, according to his profile.
John Arkan’s family migrated to Australia from India in 1890, initially coming here to pave a career in the farming industry. Since then, John and his family have become instrumental in the growth of Woolgoolga and the Sikh community. John has a passion for family, Indian food and an unwavering commitment to the Coffs Coast.
His Facebook page also carries the alias of Jorahvar Singh and is married to Surinder Kaur.
Arkan said farmers needed to be at the forefront of every regional candidate’s priorities.
It would be the second time the Woolgoolga resident and business owner has run as an Independent in a federal election.
In 2010, Cr Arkan received 9.9% of the vote – the highest of any Independent candidate in Cowper since 1969.
If elected, Cr Arkan said projects he would pioneer included securing funding for the long-delayed Woolgoolga Multi-Purpose Facility.
A federal election to determine all 226 members of the 45th Parliament of Australia will take place on Saturday 2 July 2016