BRON Larner has been following Southern Downs politics very closely in recent years.

She's watched controversy and conflict, councillors come and go and council debts continue to pile up.

One day she decided enough was enough.

Ms Larner is the first woman to throw her hat into the ring as a mayoral candidate for next year's council elections.

It's not the first time the Stanthorpe resident of 25 years has run for council.

In 2008, Ms Larner secured 2.18 per cent or 3245 votes in the councillor election.

Running for mayor was something Ms Larner had long considered in the lead-up to her announcement last month.

The mayoral candidate said she was putting her hand up because the world is rapidly changing and the Southern Downs needed new ways of thinking to tackle problems.

"We need to be informed, flexible and innovative," she said.

"I want to see the Southern Downs back on track in terms of budget - I would also like to see greater transparency and accountability in local government."

Ms Larner runs the Stanthorpe and Southern Downs Politics page on Facebook, regularly engaging in debate about the big issues in the region.

Politics is a particular passion for Ms Larner, who has worked for local government in the past as a facility manager.

She has also worked as a teacher and university lecturer.

"I have been responsible for millions of dollars in assets and have been expected to run these facilities on very tight budgets," Ms Larner said.

"I have never gone over budget in my entire working career."

Ms Larner has identified a number of areas she believes the council needs to improve, particularly its long-term planning.

"At the moment we seem to be taking a band-aid approach and we are wallowing in plans which sound good but do not really address the future," she said.

"I would dearly like to see long-term planning.

"We need to concentrate on the things we value and are good at."