A newly created, highly paid job at Tauranga City Council has been blasted by former councillor Murray Guy who says the position is nothing more than a "back watcher" for Mayor Stuart Crosby.
The council is taking applications for an Executive Officer, a new role responsible for providing "high-level advisory support services" to the mayor and deputy mayor, Kelvin Clout and reporting to them. The salary could be between $80,000 and $130,000 depending on the successful person's experience, according to sources.
The advertisement on seek.co.nz called for a person with combined "commercial and political acumen", someone who would "continually seek to identify opportunities to enhance the profile of Tauranga City Council's Mayoral Suite."
The candidate would have to have a "proactive awareness" of local, regional and national issues which would allow the mayor and deputy mayor to be a "step ahead at all times - with no surprises," the advert said.
Former city councillor Murray Guy told the Bay of Plenty Times the role was a "spin doctor" to make Mr Crosby and Mr Clout "look good".