Former Western Australia My Kitchen Rules star Michael Della Maddalena will be going “from frying pans into policy plans” as he eyes the North ward seat in the City of Vincent’s council elections.

Mr Della Maddalena said he aims to add a “fresh of breath air” into council, with the Vincent local saying he isn’t afraid of “rattling some feathers” and “pushing some boundaries”.

“I can be direct and sometimes people get offended by the way I speak. But at the courts we don’t have time to bluff,” he said.

Mr Della Maddalena has worked in the WA justice system for more than two decades and has experience in roles at District Court, Supreme Court, the State Administrative Tribunal, and the Prisoner Review Board.

After placing third in last year’s MKR, Mr Della Maddalena said the experience, even though a “nightmare”, had given him skills he can transfer to council.

“We spent nights in discussions that went to 5am,” he said.

“I learned to sit back, absorb everything, and then decipher the b******* from the truth.”

He has lived in the North Perth area for more than 20 years and said he “just wants to make a change”.

“My partner said ‘If you’re so unhappy about things, you should run for council one day’,” he said.

“It’s not about me being a councillor, it’s about listening to people and doing what they need, not just running the council’s own agenda.”

He said Vincent was now inner-city which needed to be “embraced”.

“We have to embrace change, embrace development, and accept more high-rises to accommodate people,” he said.

“We need to cut the red tape, stand up, and make small businesses more profitable.”

He won’t be taking traditional campaigning efforts, such as door-knocking, saying that he thinks it is “invasive”.

“When people come home from work, it’s their time to switch off and chuck your heels off,” he said. “They don’t want someone at their door.”

As well as focusing on “strengthening community engagement” and “keeping suburbs safe and attractive”, Mr Della Maddelena said protecting the parks, tree canopy and greenery were his main goals.

“I want the main arteries to be full of trees — Charles Street, Scarborough Beach Road, Green Street. They should all be tree-lined,” he said.

“People are cutting down their own front trees. We need to be more vigilant with that.”

Mr Della Maddalena will be up against current North ward councillor and deputy mayor Alex Castle and three other fresh faces.

Two seats are available as Cr Ron Alexander has not put his hand up for re-election.

The City of Vincent North ward includes Mt Hawthorn and North Perth.