Clout puts his hat in the ring

Kelvin Clout.

A Tauranga finger foods manufacturer and director of a private kindergarten has announced he intends to stand for the city's leadership.

Kelvin Clout, 50, has decided to take on the challenge of trying to loosen Mayor Stuart Crosby's nine-year grip on power at October's council elections. He will also stand for one of the two seats on the Te Papa/Welcome Bay Ward, held by Bill Grainger and Terry Molloy.

Mr Clout's decision to seek the mayoralty has led to Councillor Murray Guy declaring he no longer intends to stand against Mr Crosby.

Cr Guy, who came a distant second to Mr Crosby in 2010, said although he had no history with Mr Clout until a few weeks ago, he now believed he had the values and qualities compatible with being mayor.

Cr Guy said earlier this year that he would only stand again in the absence of someone else being nominated whom he felt he could support.

Mr Clout and his wife Kathryn, who runs The Tree House Private Kindergarten in the Avenues, have lived in Tauranga for 23 years.

"I feel like I am a local now."

Mr Clout was not contesting the mayoralty in order to boost his profile for the ward election. "I can make a genuine difference ... I have a can-do positive attitude."

His three children had left home, his business, Fleur Foods, was running well and he felt he now had the time to devote to the council.

Although he was a first timer to the hurly-burly of local government politics, Mr Clout said he would bring business experience to the council table.

"I am fairly cautious on the money side of things and I have an inclusive management style."

Mr Clout said he was cautious about bureaucracy and red tape. "Life does not have to be that complicated."

He also felt he was at a good age to be seeking election. "I am young enough to be energetic and to do the things that are required to be done but old enough to have some real life experience."

The former general manager of Pinto Fruit Juice is the past-president of the New Zealand Juice and Beverage Association and past-chairman of the industry cluster group Food Bay of Plenty.

Bethlehem resident John Robson, who polled fourth for the mayoralty in 2010, was the only other person to have announced he was joining the race to be mayor.

Prospective mayoral candidates include former city councillor Mike Baker and the bottom polling candidate in 2010, Hori Leaming.