Long-time Napier deputy mayor Kathie Furlong has become one of the first councillors in Hawke's Bay to call time on a political career at next year's local body elections.
She confirmed her decision to Hawke's Bay Today last night, saying that becoming a "pensioner" next year, it's time to let younger people have a chance.
Stressing she is not implying any criticism or comment on colleagues, she says other stalwarts of local body service should also be considering the new-blood scenario when weighing-up whether to stand again at the next local body elections, expected to be in October-November 2013.
By then she will have served six terms, or 18 years, since joining the council at the same time as the now-standing Mayor, Barbara Arnott.
She has been Deputy Mayor since Mrs Arnott was elected Mayor in 2001. Mrs Furlong believes there may have been discouragement for other people to stand for election, including the fact that in the Napier council elections in 2010 only one of the incumbents was not seeking re-election.
