The Outdoor Recreation party candidate pulled approximately 1600 votes (pending pre-poll and postals) in the weekend’s State Election.

But he also admits it was very optimistic. “I’m really a greenhorn in this political business and I sort of hoped that I would get 10 per cent,” he admitted.

“I guess it was a pretty reasonable effort considering where I was coming from. I’m a competitor and I guess I wanted to do better.”

“Yesterday was fine, I felt very very grateful to anyone who handed stuff out for me, there’s honestly better things to do on a Saturday!

“I knew I had very little chance of pulling votes from other areas because I’m just not known.

“So I really focused on Goulburn and also, because of my articles, I went out to Crookwell and did the same there.”

Mr Ashton believes it was the pulling power of Mike Braid that saw Pru Goward over the line.

“Pru is a wonderful worker for the Liberal Party, she is a fine lady... but quite simply I believe she will never ever give anyone here a leg up to the place,” he said.

“I think the real thing to come out of this election was that Mike Baird is a very attractive leader, and in the little bit of polling I did, I noticed the Liberals always went up and said ‘a vote for Mike Baird’.

“I think that he was ultimately the significant factor in our electorate.”

While the results did not meet Mr Ashton’s optimism, he does say that his first foray into politics has been a wild ride.

He says a greater awareness of national park protection and health hub services would be a fitting legacy.

The opportunity to express his ideas to the region is what he enjoyed the most, but it was unlikely he would be enter the political fray again.

“To me I really enjoyed the candidates debates, they were the highlight and that is the only reason I would ever get back into this game,” he said.

“I got great support, it was a bit of fun and to be honest I really enjoyed it.