Editorial: The rumour must go away

OPINION: Running for public office, at whatever level one may contemplate it, is something that's not for the faint-hearted.

And nor is it for the thin-skinned.

That's something Janie Annear knows all too well, having served as a district councillor and now being two-thirds of the way through her second term as mayor of the Timaru District.

Criticism and excessive scrutiny is a fact of everyday life in such an important role, because, as the old saying goes "You can't please all of the people all of the time". There will always be people who disagree with decisions made at local or national government level and the person at the helm, as Mrs Annear is in the district council setting here, will bear the brunt of whatever criticism is forthcoming.

We live in a democracy and one of the functions of that system is that people are able to voice concern, dissatisfaction, anger with decisions made by our leaders. It's part of keeping those leaders honest and everyone who seeks to be one of those leaders should go into the situation knowing that's how it works.

Janie Annear has had to face plenty of criticism during her time as mayor, some if it constructive and some patently not – much of it on this Opinion page. That's part of the role. Those in her position must learn to listen to criticism and respond appropriately, but also to have the courage of their convictions and to press ahead when they are convinced that a particular course of action is the right one to follow, in spite of opposition.

What people in such positions shouldn't have to deal with is untruths about themselves, like the rumours Mrs Annear has had to hear over the last couple of months about a supposed drink-driving charge.

The story on the front page of yesterday's Herald was about as unequivocal as it could get in making it clear there is no truth to the rumours. Why on earth would she have mentioned the rumour to a reporter from this newspaper when she first heard it otherwise?

The Herald had no intention initially of going near a story on the subject, but it was the fact that the rumour kept cropping up that eventually convinced us to approach her about the possibility. Like her, we are surprised by how the story took hold. She deserves credit for handling it as she did, not allowing it to break her stride.

We don't know how the rumour started but if it was an attempt to undermine Mrs Annear's leadership of the district council it has failed. The story should go away now.

Those who don't like Mrs Annear or her policies should know the place to address that issue is at local body elections, either by standing against her or voting against her. That is where such opposition should stay.

- © Fairfax NZ News