In this initial foray into local election matters it is important that I sort the wheat from the chaff. Or rather the mayoral candidates from those seeking council or ward chairs.
Susan O’Regan, Mike Pettit, Clare St Pierre.
So, we have three candidates for the top job in Waipā –-for the chains of office, the car, the finance package and the huge number of hours that will be consumed by the winner. So firstly, a plaudit – anyone who desires the mayor’s seat (static or mobile) must have a streak of insanity in them. Or perhaps masochism. That said I applaud anyone who seriously feels they have the whit, energy and experience for the role. And can make a positive difference.
Peter Carr
And it is to experience that I turn first this week. All three candidates have been around the big table for the last three years. Some for longer. One of them is standing to complete (her words) ‘unfinished business’. For which read ‘change’. Meanwhile the old managerial guard has departed the building; the new incumbent has her feet firmly under the table and there is certainly change afoot.
Some of it good but, to paraphrase the website of a longstanding, respected councillor, clarity and open government have started to go out of the window. Likewise, the change to council meeting dates to throttle the timeliness of newspaper reporting is something that has not escaped the more wide-awake voters. Again (same councillor on a public domain website) “there is a lack of public transparency over the conducting of council business”.
These are serious charges which begs me to observe that perhaps the two councillors standing for the mayoral seat are doing so due, in part, to changes and accompanying frustrations that have been surfacing lately.
Looking ahead, the first major change will be the forthcoming water-related consortium which will see a sizable number of council staff depart the building(s) to work with their pan-Waikato counterparts. Governance of how that is handled and the freeing up of council building space should be a prime target for council watchers. Perhaps a reduction of office space in Wilson Street will permit the expansion of the enjoyable but under-strain Cambridge public library. Watch this space.
Between now and the first week of October we will be besieged with promises – some of which will be impossible to keep. But getting noticed at this time is the name of the game. A plethora of public signage, pamphlets, self-aggrandisement (no kissing babies anymore) and brief slots at public hall meetings will be the near-future excitement for young and old.
And on the subject of youth, the percentage of Waipā people under the age of 24 who have not yet registered for voting is alarming.
The News’ columnist Peter Carr catches up with Waipa councillor Mike Montgomerie – elected unopposed – at the Meet the Waipa CEO event held in the Town Hall. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
