Candidates tackle issues

BY RYAN EVANS

Pauline Lockett is proving a breath of fresh air in the early stages of the New Plymouth District Council mayoralty campaign.

A surprise nomination for the vacant chains, the former chartered accountant is also quickly becoming the surprise package of the race with a mix of competence, level-headedness and business acumen on display.

For the first time last night, all eight candidates were in the same room at the same time, at the Fitzroy Rotary Club's "meet the mayoral candidates" evening.

Summarising the stances on the thorny issues tackled is no easy task.

A range of the usual hoary old chestnuts were once again covered – TIML, sewerage schemes both past and future, rates rises, the Waiwhakaiho Bridge, arts funding.

Every candidate produced the goods at some stage of the night, scoring points with an astute observation here, a clever idea there, throw in a bold promise or a demonstration of understanding or two.

But two candidates performed particularly well and they were Ms Lockett and John Rae.

Ms Lockett appealed with her general intelligence and clear understanding and experience of corporate governance.

Her biggest flaw as a mayoral candidate is a slight lack of charisma, something Mr Rae has in spades.

It's a shame they aren't standing together somehow because with similar business backgrounds and obvious support bases they would complement each other nicely.

Mr Rae was his usual larger-than-life self.

His best moment of the evening came when he turned a question back on the audience, stating that by now they were probably "hot and bored".

He also impressed with a common sense touch that has not yet been jaded by years of working in the slow-moving world of local government.

Talk of charisma brings us to the two "big guns" of the race – John McLeod and Harry Duynhoven.

Both were a little disappointing.

At this point of the election it appears both are going to try to win based on name recognition and the deeds of the past.

Mr Duynhoven looks to be resting on his MP's laurels.

He needs to forget that and move on, central and local government are very different beasts and he was voted out of office after all.

Mr McLeod is charismatic and the military-trained man clearly backs himself.

But he could be in danger of overstating his credentials and his national profile.

It would be interesting to know what the Local Government Minister would think of the audience being told Mr McLeod "has Mr Dancing With The Stars Rodney Hide's ear".

Phil Quinney and Maurice Betts find themselves in an interesting and difficult situation.

Of all the candidates, these two more than any other, understand the way the council works and are able to offer insights into why past decisions were made.

But in doing so, they appear destined to pay for the "sins" of the Tennent era, both the men have served on council throughout.

Mr Quinney obviously sees himself as Peter Tennent's heir apparent.

He is bold in his plans to keep the faith and he wasn't afraid to tell the meeting that he wouldn't promise rates rises at the level of inflation to pay for plans such as extending the coastal walkway from the Stoney River to Waitara.

Mr Betts is a money man and there's no denying he knows his stuff.

Unfortunately for him, while everybody wants to improve the council's financial management, the ins and outs of how to do so do not make good election fodder.

The two remaining candidates, Chantel Hewitt and Kevin Moore make the right noises but they're just not going to have the credibility to get the votes.

Mr Moore suffers from the "I told you so syndrome."

Listening to him speak you wonder if there's anything the man doesn't know.

Not only is he an industrial chemist, he's also an economics and environmental expert, in touch with some of the top minds in the world.

Ms Hewitt, a former district councillor and mayoral candidate, simply seems a little out of touch with the electorate after her years away.

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