Chris Leitch - Denby byelection profile

Chris Leitch - Denby candidate

A vibrant council needs a constant flow of new ideas and skills as our city grows and changes.

As a councillor I believe I can contribute both to the city's leadership team.

I have considerable experience on similar organisations - three years on the Auckland Regional Services Trust which paid off millions of dollars of debt while successfully keeping revenue-earning assets in public ownership and several years on a trust which held power company shares and enabled kilometres of power lines to be put underground.

I've made numerous comprehensive submissions over the past 10 years to both the district council and regional council on a range of issues.

These have included how to get the city's debt and rates down, improve our roads, support local businesses, boost employment, and advance the plan for rail to the port.

I've also supported retaining the district's GMO free status, and opposed exploitation of Poriti Springs water.

As a councillor I would continue to work on those ideas.

The area where Kamo and Tikipunga meet is undergoing major growth and those centres need more facilities.

A significant part of my role as a councillor will be to consult with both communities, go in to bat for the things needed, and advance plans already under way that need to be completed.

My wife Anne and I run Instep Dance Studio.

We teach ballroom and Latin American dancing.

It's a people focused business and I've taught thousands of people over the years.

Those people skills will be a significant advantage when working with other councillors, council staff, and the community.

I would use those skills too, to work with local Members of Parliament to try to get more police on the beat, to make our community a safer place in which to live and work.