26 January 2021, 10:46 PM
We asked all nine candidates vying for a seat at the Invercargill City Council in this month's by-election the same 3 questions. They were:
Why do you think you should win a seat at the council table?
Having stood before as a council candidate, I feel strongly that I would bring fresh new ideas to a council that is divided. Being elected as a new, fresh face councillor will be a learning experience for this role to learn more about how our council works and delivers services to the people of our city. Being elected to Council I see this is doing my community service but also doing my civic duty. I will only serve for 2 terms only as a city councillor.
What skills and/or experience can you offer to address the lack of governance and fractured relationships within the ICC, as highlighted in the Richard Thomson report?
I have served in roles like a committee member, board member, director, deputy chairman, 2nd vice president and 1st vice president. I am also an associate of the New Zealand Institute of Management and Leadership, associate of Customer Service Institute of Australia. I believe I bring these governance roles to the council table and fresh new ideas is what needed. I feel that there is urgent need for transformational change of leadership and management from our council. I would like to see a nine-term limit be brought into council with a rotation policy to allow fresh new councillors to be elected every three years. And the Mayor can only serve for six or nine years only. Also I would like to see a whole new Local Government NZ, NZQA Leadership and Management Skills Courses be brought in and have more ongoing training for the Mayor and councillors earning National Qualifications in Local Government like NZ National Certificate in Public Administration or National Certificate in Local Government Level 3 and 4.
If elected, what are the top three projects you'd like to see achieved by the end of this term?