Former two-time Palmerston North mayoral candidate Grant Seton is running for a seat on the Hawke's Bay District Health Board.
Mr Seton moved to Hawke's Bay to look after his elderly mother and said he has extensive private and public sector experience.
The IT worker is a former student of Napier Boys' High School but received much of his education in Palmerston North.
When asked what governance experience he said: "I haven't sat on too many boards though I have tried to stand for council-type roles before, nothing in Hawke's Bay though."
He said he was prepared to ask the tough questions "and try and get that information out to the public if it is being somewhat sat on".