Now, with 34 years of local government experience under his belt, Mr Pollock has thrown his hat in the ring to be mayor of the Shire for the next three years.

Mr Pollock, who was first elected to council in 1987 and has held the position of Deputy Mayor for "almost 20 years" is the lead candidate on a ticket featuring Peter Diskon, Jack Tait, Robert Motbey, and Dr Jennifer Munro for the local elections to be held on December 4.

If elected, Mr Pollock will have been on council for more than 35 years when the next term ends.

"I went to a meeting in Narooma in 1987 where they were selecting all their candidates because I was interested in the process," he told the Bay Post.

"As I walked out, somebody said I should have a go, but I told them I had no interest at the time.

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"I did end up having a go, and I was elected - looking back I was probably elected because I wasn't old and grey at the time."

Mr Pollock and his young family moved from Melbourne to the Shire in 1983 and settled in Potato Point.

"It was difficult to find anywhere to live, because all the sewage schemes were being installed around Narooma and Dalmeny at the time," he said.

"Someone told me about this house out at Potato Point, and we've been living there ever since.

"We built our own house in 1987, the kids went to school in Bodalla and Narooma, and with any luck they'll cart me out of Potato Point in a box."

Mr Pollock found success with his Bodalla restaurant, and decided to open a new restaurant, Mexican Munchies, in Batemans Bay in 1991.

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"We ran the two restaurants for a while, which was pretty hectic, so we ended up concentrating on the Batemans Bay one and ran it until 2003," he said.

"After 20 years our tolerance levels had slipped for hosting restaurants, and I was lucky enough that Hog's Breath wanted to come to Batemans Bay at around the same time, so they became my tenants for five years."

Mr Pollock said his 34 years of local government experience gave him an edge over other mayoral candidates in the election.

"I call it as I see it, and I won't crawl to people to get them to agree with me," he said.

"I always call what's in the best interest for the greatest number.

"I like being involved in a lot of things, and I think I've got the ability and experience to bring about good results for the Shire, and I want to remain involved and contribute on that basis."

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Mr Pollock said he'd heard concerns from the community and other media outlets about his history with the Liberal Party, but moved to quell those concerns as he hasn't been a member of the party for "at least 15 years".

"I certainly ran for the Liberal Party in Eden-Monaro in 1990, but that was 31 years ago," he said.

"I haven't been a member of the Liberal Party for at least 15 years, and haven't been an active member for at least 20.

"I consider the position of partisan politics in local government totally inappropriate - I've never used council for anything associated with the Liberal Party, and that will continue to be the case.

"I do like to see businesses thrive and I love to see people making a profit because that means they're in a position to help those who are less able to look after themselves.

"My philosophy tries to create a more prosperous community that has the ability to help the less fortunate - if that makes me a Liberal, I'm proud of it."