Watch the full Local Focus interview for Peter Oskam's views on the district's biggest issues, and our less-important quickfire questions.
While Peter Oskam was on a rural community board, he noticed Whanganui is made from a "cluster" of small communities, each with its own individuality.
Now as a first-time council candidate, he aims to bring them together with the wider community.
"It's a tall ask, but is it worth it? Yeah, I think so."
Oskam says Whanganui could improve the city centre by "making it really entertaining and a place that people want to go, not just to shop but just to congregate and communicate".
But Oskam is opposed to Three Waters reform.
"[Whanganui] has done extremely well over the last 20 years, and we're in a good position on all three waters."
Oskam says the best holiday destination in the world is "that place", a mountain bike park he owns and operates "just up the Whanganui river".
Other candidates chose to not be interviewed by Local Focus.