Martin Rutherford:

You are demonstrating exactly the kind of behaviour that is such a problem within the council. You are making personal attacks on people instead of debating the issues. Your language is immature and rude, and it is designed to obscure discussion of the real issues here. Southlanders have a right to discuss whether the mayor and council are serving Southland as they should and whether ratepayers' money is being put to good use.

You have missed the point entirely. A lot of people object to the mayor's belief that he can get rid of anyone who stands in his way. Many people also have a problem with a mayor who presides over a council that includes a drunk driver. Many also object to their money being spent on unnecessary overseas jaunts.

The mayor is paid to serve Southlanders. It is the right of all Southlanders to question whether the mayor is doing his job properly. My guess is that Southlanders are tired of nasty, immature personal attacks like the ones you have lobbed at people on this message board and like the ones that go on in the council. Please go back to school and learn how to participate in a grown-up debate.

Another former Southlander, I totally agree with Rex. How many CEO's have managed to retain their position after being found guilty of driving while drunk?? More importantly, where are the CEO's ethics in not resigning?? He must be on a great package!! Sounds like the apple rotting from the inside out.

I live in the North Island so this is strictly an outsiders view but here's what I think...

1. Tim is a fantastic ambassador for Invercargill.

2. Any city's CEO convicted of drink driving should resign. If he hasn't the grace to do that he should be sacked.

3. If a city's Deputy Mayor is supporting a drink-driving CEO then there are the two people bringing the city into disrepute.

It's not only Tim who works for the good of the province. I think it's time recognition was given to the Licencing Trust and their fine efforts for the good of Southland. Southland could live without Tim....it did before and will do so again.

It's time to go . . . Martin Rutherford

sarah #13 u r a rite nutter, if you seriously take the poll via the times web site then you are probably getting setup and leaving some cake and a glass of beer for Santa LOL

the REAL ISSUE HERE that Aunty Fred from the Tired Times has done is moved the issue from a ICC staff member (Actually he is the CEO of the city) DRINK DRIVING and crashing into an innocent member of the public and the hack of deputy mayor neil bioniface took days to tell Mayor Tim as Boniface was more concerned about the state mind of Richard King WTF?................ boniface you should have resigned u suck

I didn't know that the polls run on stuff were so easy to corrupt, I would vote 4 Tim then the mrs's against him so many times that neither of us can remember who voted for who the most. At the end of the day we will see what happens, but if Tim goes you had better have Gary McCormick, or lyn (of Tawa)or some other colourful person ready to replace him. As I have said before if some one, I don't know, say Neil went to Wellington and tried to talk people into moving south, it would be "Neil who? from where?" If you don't, last one out, turnoff the lights.

There's no doubting at allthe promotion Tim has done for Invercargill over his years in office. However in politics after a lengthy time in office, time will always come for a changing of the guard. And frankly after reading the childishness from Tim in recent Southland Times articles indicating that 'blood will be spilt' and that he has 'lost confidence in the Deputy Mayor, Neil Boniface', I think the time is ripe for change in Invercargill's Mayoralty at the next election. Public office is no place for schoolyard bullying Mayor Shadbolt.

The Deputy Mayor, Cr Boniface, has proved himself to be worthy of his current position over and over again. He has worked hard over too many years for his civic responsibilities and work ethic to be questioned. And #12, Martin Rutherford, you may like to educate yourself, instead of showing your lack of education: Councillors are far from dole bludgers. They put in some very long hours, week after week to complete the work required of them.

Invercargill possesses many world class business minds and has proved to be resourceful and visionary in many areas. Tim Shadbolt needs to stop embarrassing his Council and the citizens of Invercargill and get on with his job.

It's time to go . . . Tim!

Rob #11 its small minded people like you who moan about the mayors spending, he more than returns that in the branding he gives Invercargill and Southland. You should be more concerned about why we have Professional dole bludgers like Boniface and Dennis who are cashing in on being both ICC and ILT

Its time the old boys club got driving out of town.

ITS TIME TO WAKE UP PEOPLE STOP BEING SHEEP yeah i know old whats her name Frano or what ever gets upset about it but Tim really is Southland's mayor and people need to get over it and support him.

Tim may be out town a lot but he is still promoting and plugging our region.

We have a old boys club puppet Mayor David Harrington and he was a lame duck that did nothing, and ifim not mistaken there was a landslide back to Tim.

We have been there and done that got rid of Tim and realised it was a mistake.

Lets get rid off half the tired old councilors who treat it like a job rather than doing the right thing for the ratepayers

Hmm, why do I get the feeling that this message board has been hijacked by Tim Supporters? Martin Rutherford, I think you might want to consider getting someone to check your calculation of what 99% pro-Tim would look like. I am a former supporter of Tim Shadbolt. Former, meaning prior to having my money spent on perks and overseas jaunts, and prior to high-school-level hissy fits over working with others. I don't think any reasonable person can argue at this point that it is time to get rid of Tim. Southlanders need to stop getting so excited about people who are considered passe and washed up everywhere else. We are not respected for having this guy as mayor.