Hopefuls line up for your votes

STRENGTHENING TIES: In terms of connections, mayor and Transpower chairman Wayne Brown was pictured last week with Prime Minister John Key at the opening of Transpower’s new Otahuhu substation.

ON A MISSION: Laurie Byers complains about damage done during the council’s past term and promises to lift staff morale if he becomes mayor. ‘‘In the 15 years I have been involved with the council, I have never seen staff so disillusioned and their morale so low,’’ he says.

CONNECTIONS: Sir John Goulter claims Far North local body ‘‘aristocracy’’ and Ngapuhi have endorsed his tilt at the mayoralty. His nominator Patsy Thornton is the daughter of Ivan Berghan, MBE, JP, who chaired Mangonui County Council for 20 years in the 1950s.

UP AND RUNNING: Hugh McKechnie spent his campaigning energies this week encouraging people to support tomorrow’s Daffodil Day. A cancer survivor, Hugh is wearing the mask he wore during his successful radiation therapy. He describes himself as the Forrest Gump of politics but says he’s greatly enthused.

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Bay Chronicle

Site `where it all began' Travelling in old style Wilkie back to share ramblings Batman carries tribute A day in the Hokianga Compromise rules at Waitangi Day Help Bob get his operation Air Force joins celebrations Getting ahead with grants Templemans join grieving parents' campaign

THE Far North local body election promises to be gripping, with colourful characters Wayne Brown and Hugh McKechnie, knighted newcomer John Goulter and local body veteran Laurie Byers all wanting the top job.

There are 27 nominees for nine seats on the council and 28 nominations for 19 community board seats.

One of the more interesting results to watch will be in the Russell-Opua subdivision where longtime foes Mike Rashbrooke and Doug Schmuck are vying for one community board seat with a third candidate, Terry Greening.

The four Bay of Islands-Whangaroa ward council seats are hotly contested. Incumbents Ann Court, Di Maxwell, Steve McNally and Tom Baker are challenged by a strong line-up of candidates, including Ngati Rehia's Nora Rameka and former Far North District Council communications officer Rick McCall, who offers an inside view. With 10 years' involvement in local government as a communications adviser, he is making his first bid for elected office.

"There are a range of out-dated policies and practices which urgently need to be overhauled if the Far North is to develop and prosper," he says.

Others seeking the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa ward seats are Paul Gorringe, Dave Hookway, Martin Leiding, Gray Phillips, Jill Smith, Stephen Timings and Jerry Twigden – all with strong community profiles.

Seven community board members are elected unopposed – Mark Anderson, Hiku Cherrington, Johnson Davis, Belinda Ward, Bruce Mills, Clara Lugnet and Lawrie Atkinson.

Twenty-five people are to contest eight seats on the Northland Regional Council, including experienced local body politician and former Cabinet minister Dover Samuels and well known community worker Ruth Marsh, both of Kerikeri. Other nominees for the three Far North regional council seats are sitting members Joe Carr and Ian Walker, Jane Hindle of Russell and Bronwyn Hunt of Paihia. Full list of council-community board nominees P2

- Bay Chronicle