Mayor Brown allies deny jumping ship

RICHARD EDMONDSON

Two Far North district councillors who were allies of mayor Wayne Brown at the last election deny they have switched allegiances to rival mayoral candidate Sir John Goulter.

Deputy mayor Sally Macauley and eastern ward councillor Di Maxwell were elected on Mr Brown's Value For Ratepayers ticket in 2007.

But their attendance at Sir John's election campaign meetings has led people to speculate that they are supporting his bid for the mayoralty rather than Mr Brown's.

Mrs Macauley says she has attended Sir John's meetings because she wants to hear his ideas for the district.

"I'm not against Wayne at all. What I'm doing is going around and listening to the messages that each of the candidates has."

Mrs Macauley is particularly interested in hearing what candidates would do for the western ward, because she has had to fight to get council funds for facilities in the ward, she says.

She has worked well with Mr Brown, but says the relationship has had its ups and downs.

"He hasn't really been western ward-focused, but he has supported me at the end of the day when I've put my hand up for western ward funding," she says.

By contrast, Sir John Goulter has promised to keep the council's headquarters in Kaikohe.

"I know Wayne has wanted to close it, but I haven't heard his policy so I can't say he still wants to close it."

She isn't declaring her support for any of the mayoral candidates at this stage.

"At the moment I'm just listening to everybody and that's where I think we all should be at this stage of the game."

Ms Maxwell is also weighing up the mayoral candidates.

"Wayne's certainly got skills, but I think John will be very good too."

She plans to stand as an independent candidate if she decides to stand at all.

"My firm view is the team needs to be the people that are voted in at the election. I'm not interested in being part of any team before the election."

Eastern ward councillor Steve McNally was also elected on the Value For Ratepayers ticket, but as of last week he hadn't decided if he would seek a second term. He said he would support Mr Brown if asked, because the mayor had done a very good job of leading the council through difficult times.

"It's been the toughest economic climate the world has seen in 70 years."

"Wayne's made it pretty clear that we're all singing off the same song sheet and we'll all stand as independents," he says.

He agreed with Mr Brown's recent statements questioning the need for an electoral ticket and a voting block in the council chamber.

- Bay Chronicle