Dubbo mayor Ben Shields raised concerns about independent candidate Mathew Dickerson's "ability to work with Dubbo Regional Council" (DRC) as he urged people to "vote above vengeance politics".

But Mr Dickerson offered assurances if elected he would be able to work with Cr Shields, saying he had in the past while they had both served on Dubbo City Council.

He said he was standing because he believed he could "make a positive difference".

Mr Dickerson was mayor of the city until Dubbo and Wellington councils were amalgamated in 2016 and an administrator was appointed.

Cr Shields, who became the first mayor of the amalgamated DRC in 2017, told of having a good working relationship with Nationals candidate Dugald Saunders and Country Labor candidate - and fellow councillor - Stephen Lawrence.

The concerns the mayor identified about Mr Dickerson centred around the merger.

Cr Shields claimed Mr Dickerson's "commitment" to DRC had been "pretty much non-existent" since the amalgamation.

"In my mind Mathew's motivation for running came when he [was no longer] mayor of Dubbo and his involvement with the DRC, except for a couple of meetings with me, which I've had to force, has been pretty much non-existent," Cr Shields said.

Tensions between Cr Shields and outgoing Dubbo MP Troy Grant increased during 2018.

When the Daily Liberal asked Cr Shields if he could work with the new state member, no matter who was elected at Saturday's poll, he sought to offer assurances.

"I can certainly work and I'll certainly try to work with any sitting member no matter who it is," he said.

"There's certainly no secret that I didn't necessarily get along with Troy Grant, however to Troy's credit he continued to deliver funding for DRC, he continued to meet with DRC, he continued to talk with myself and the CEO and pushing issues through DRC."

Cr Shields said he had opposed amalgamation, but trying to go back was not "the best outcome" for the region.

"I'm urging the people of Dubbo, of the Dubbo region, to vote above vengeance politics," he said.

"We shouldn't be voting for people into office based on trying to settle an old score."

In response, Mr Dickerson also referred to the past when addressing his ability to work effectively with the current mayor.

"Absolutely, I've worked with Ben when he was my deputy mayor for four years and I certainly worked with him on council for 12 years, so absolutely," he said.

"When you're dealing with people in a position, you're dealing with the position, you're not dealing with the individual character.

"So you're dealing with the state member, or the federal member or the mayor or the deputy mayor, you're dealing with that position and giving the respect to that position, so absolutely.

"And it's more than dealing with the mayor, it's dealing with the whole council, so you are dealing with the structure of DRC."

Mr Dickerson said people said "all sorts of things in an election campaign" and ascribed another motive to Cr Shields's comments.

"All of the things I've seen written there from Ben really just tell me that as a member of the Liberal party, what Ben is trying to do is to try his best to support the party he is a member of and that's the process that's occurred there," he said.

"He's supporting his party, he's trying his best to get the Coalition into power, after the election, as far as I'm concerned, all those things that were said will be forgotten about and we'll all move forward."

Mr Dickerson rebutted the accusation of "vengeance politics".

"People who know me know that I don't really understand what it means about vengeance politics," he said.

"People that know me know that the reasons I'm standing are because I believe I can make a positive difference in this community.

"...I've got many more important things to do with my life and my time than getting involved in the negativity of vengeance and people who've watched my campaign know that I won't be involved in negative politics, I won't go and talk about any of the other candidates in a negative fashion, I won't be involved in a tit-for-tat."

Nationals candidate Mr Saunders said if elected he would "absolutely" be able to work with Cr Shields as mayor.

They had a "good working relationship", and had already had several meetings, talking about a range of issues.

"I'm sure we will be able to work effectively together to ensure the Dubbo region continues to receive everything it deserves," Mr Saunders said.

Country Labor Mr Lawrence said he enjoyed a good working relationship with the mayor and other councillors of Dubbo Regional Council.

"If I am elected as the state member for Dubbo, I will be able to remain a councillor until the next local government election, and I intend to do so," he said.

"This will ensure the closest of working relationships between the state member and Dubbo Regional Council."