A political ticket is set to launch on the local government scene and eight candidates are all but confirmed to stand in three of the five Waipā wards.
Better Waipā will focus on key issues including road infrastructure, rates, core services, and a commitment to greater transparency.
Nominations for the October 11 election open in a month and close on August 1.
Good Local Media readers will elect Waikato Regional councillors and depending on where they live, Waikato, Waipā, Ōtorohanga or Waitomo district councillors.
Andrew Bydder
Community board positions will also be contested.
In Waipā, voters will elect a mayor at large and 11 councillors – four from Cambridge, three in Te Awamutu-Kihikihi, two from Pirongia-Kakepuku and one each from Maungatautari and the Māori ward.
The Better Waipā party says it is still seeking candidates in Te Awamutu and the Māori ward.
The ticket will not field a mayoral candidate. Spokesperson Andrew Bydder said current councillors Clare St Pierre and Mike Pettit would need to demonstrate to the group that they are suitable for the mayoralty.
Susan O’Regan
It would not support incumbent Susan O’Regan, he said.
Bydder, a Hamilton city councillor, announced in March he would seek re-election in the city and in Cambridge.
However, he told The News that if he secures enough strong candidates for Waipā, he may withdraw from the race to avoid potential distractions.
“At this moment, it’s looking like I won’t have to stand,” he said.
The News is aware of six people on the ticket but only two – Bernard Westerbaan in Kihikihi and Hope Spooner in Cambridge – have publicly declared their candidacies.
Hope Spooner
Spooner was the organiser of last year’s Pass Wide and Slow awareness campaign ride through Cambridge.
The party wanted a ticket with candidates having the sort of expertise needed to give staff better advice than what they were currently getting, said Bydder.
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