Five to battle it out for Mount seat

From left: Janet Peters, Murray Guy, Leanne Brown, Matua Parkinson and Clare Wilson.

Five people have put their names forward for the Mount Maunganui/Papamoa ward vacant electorate seat on Tauranga City Council, including ousted former councillor Murray Guy.

The extraordinary vacancy was created by the resignation of councillor Clayton Mitchell, who resigned shortly after becoming a parliamentarian as a NZ First list MP.

Mr Guy, 60, who was defeated at the 2013 election after serving four terms in council, said he had intended standing at the next Tauranga City elections but was given the nudge to stand in the by-election after two men who live in the ward urged him to do so.

"What tipped me to run was when one of these highly respected gentlemen turned up at my home last week with a partially completed nomination form. I was told they wanted the best person to represent them and urged me to sign it," he said.

Communications and marketing guru Leanne Brown has also set her sights on winning the seat, standing on the 'Looking After Locals' slogan.

The marketing manager for Bethlehem Town Centre, said her heart was in the Mount and Papamoa, and becoming a councillor had been on her radar for quite a while. "That is where I feel I can support the businesses and the community. I want to be in it for the long haul," she earlier said. Matua Parkinson, a Bay of Plenty District Health Board member, and Mount resident Clare Wilson, who stood for Labour in the Bay of Plenty electorate, are also running.

Married with two teenage children Mrs Wilson is a Justice of the Peace and registered nurse. "All the nominees are all really good, strong candidates, many whom I know and it's going to be interesting to see who finally secures the seat. I know I am the right person for this position. I have the skills and the characteristics, but most importantly I have a passion for this community," she said.

Award-winning Mount Maunganui psychologist Janet Peters who has been involved with the Like Minds, Like Mine mental health anti-stigma campaign , is the final candidate. "Putting people first is my my slogan or tagline. I have had a long history with this area, having lived at the Mount for seven years, and holidayed here for many years because my parents lived here for 30 years.

Mr Parkinson could not be contacted at the time the newspaper went to print.