The Bradleys have called Queanbeyan home for three decades, raised their sons here, and made ends meet by running the TABs in Karabar and Queanbeyan. 

Ms Bradley is passionate about the voice of small business and doing more to ease the pressure on her family and so many others in the region trying to keep local commerce afloat. 

“People live it every day,” she said. “Every small business is struggling, there are not many that aren’t.” 

Supporting fellow independent Trevor Hicks was a major factor in her decision to stand. 

“I’d really like to see him get in,” she said. “He’s real. There are no airs and graces. He is just Trev and he just gets on with the job”

She said Mr Hicks was a long-time small business person too and his frank approach would be an asset in the make up of the future council. 

Ms Bradley said digital disruption and other factors had eroded the level of trade and activity on the main streets and shops in the district. 

The 50-year-old said there wasn’t one quick fix but she wanted to put her mind toward reactivating the city. 

”The mains street needs to be looked at,” she said. “We need to get people back to Queanbeyan. There are a lot of things that go on here, the festivals and the improvements to the lake. I think it will only get better.”