WINDS of change are well and truly blowing across the Southern Downs with Warwick woman Tracy Dobie throwing her hat into the ring for the Mayoralty.

While it would be tempting to draw analogies with the legendary cyclone of the same name, literary licence must bow to "nose" which senses Tracy Dobie is far from a destructive force.

Promising unity, cohesion and healing of wounds inflicted on the economic and social fabric of the community by years of council indecision and in-fighting, the pint-sized ex-Australian Army career officer appears well-equipped to face-down what could be an army of intending nominees.

At this stage, the field numbers four including early runner Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley who threw down the gauntlet to incumbent Peter Blundell in a spectacular Daily News Star Wars front page employing literary licence enough to last-out the millennium.

Cr Blundell has announced he will re-contest.

Waiting in the wings, it is strongly rumoured, is Tracy 2, long-time council employee and former Warwick Tourism and Events CEO Tracy Vellacott said to be flying under the wing of past-Mayor Ron Bellingham for whom she was personal assistant in council.

Darryl Evans is definitely not running.

But it is still early days, with the State Electoral Commission yet to announce the date for close of nominations and critical dates for issue and return of postal votes.

With the March 19 election date rushing towards us, I am at a loss to comprehend how candidates can successfully and comprehensively campaign within such a short (and as yet unknown) window.

The proliferation of candidates putting themselves forward at the last election evidenced a high degree of dissatisfaction with the then council.

We can expect a repeat of that sentiment at this election.

What we cannot afford is a repeat of the outcome.

When voters are not informed nor cognisant of the relative attributes of new candidates many opt for the status quo. Others simply don't give a damn.

In an ideal world, winds of change would ring-in a new era for this region, sadly staring down its own Waterloo with financial woes warranting inclusion on the local government watch-list.

But winds alone don't bring change. Only voters can do that.