Betsy Reymer with Catholic Bishop Richard Laurenson
Betsy Reymer will be in two minds when she casts her vote in the upcoming Waikato Regional Council elections.
Betsy Reymer
On one side is her son Garry Reymer; on the other her daughter-in-law Liz Stolwyk who is married to Garry’s brother Andrew.
When nominations closed last week, both names appeared on the four-strong list vying for two seats in the Waipā-King Country constituency.
Stolwyk, who farms at Ōhaupō, is stepping down from Waipā District Council after four terms – two as deputy mayor – to pursue a regional role.
Reymer, a veteran Federated Farmers executive member known for his contributions to the dairy industry, is part of the Rates Control Team ticket. He farms in Cambridge.
Garry Reymer
Betsy Reymer, 92, says both candidates are strong environmentalists, passionate about nature, waterways and trees.
Asked whether that stems from their Dutch heritage, the mother of 10 – four girls and six boys – laughed and said, “They’ve gone overboard about nature in Holland.”
She’s never been deeply involved in local politics. She and her late husband John were always busy raising children and farming.
Liz Stolwyk
But she’s unimpressed with the mess left behind by recent Waipā District Council work on her Te Awamutu street.
“I’ve left them a note and told them to clean it up,” she says.
So, who will she vote for when her papers arrive next month?
“Family,” Betsy tells The News with a chuckle.
