Mayoral race heats up with Patterson joining the battle

The race for the Masterton mayoralty is on in earnest with a third candidate entering the contest yesterday.

Two-term district councillor Lyn Patterson has not yet officially nominated, but has declared her intention to seek the mayoralty after approaches from people she said are wanting " meaningful change."

Mrs Patterson, an accountant with the Institute of Professional Engineers in Wellington has lived in Wairarapa for 37 years and is chair of the Wairarapa Governance Review Working Party.

"Local government in our region is in a period of change and regardless of the outcome, strong leadership is needed to ensure Masterton is well placed for the future," she said.

Mrs Patterson said progress underpins her vision for Masterton, by encouraging a stronger sense of community and by creating an environment that would enable businesses to develop and flourish.

"People need to be given a reason to stay, but also a reason to come here."

Part of her aim is working with the community to find ways to support Masterton's young people who choose to remain living here.

"We need to support their development and ensure we have created pathways to employment."

Mrs Patterson said should she become mayor it would be her full-time job.

Also challenging incumbent mayor Garry Daniell is Times-Age sports writer and first term district councillor Gary Caffell.

Mr Caffell has officially nominated, with his nominees being his wife Barbara Caffell and Chris Kilford.

Mr Caffell said yesterday he is offering voters a " stark difference" to both either Mr Daniell and Mrs Patterson both of whom, he said, were firmly behind a Wairarapa Unitary Authority.

Mr Caffell said he was keeping a very open mind about the issue of Local Government reform and was not committed to a partnership with Wellington, or to the unitary authority.

He said he has not been " particularly happy" with any of the proposals so far put forward over reform.

Mr Caffell said he was offering a style of leadership that would be totally inclusive for both councillors and the community.

"I will go out of my way to have a very strong community focus and also to involve the rural community."

He said council had struggled to connect with its rural voters and his intended deputy mayor David Holmes would be driving the initiative to give rural voters a proper voice.

Sitting mayor Garry Daniell is seeking a third term and said achievements during the last six years have helped him to decide on a further term.

"We have made enormous progress in the infrastructure of the town and it's not just Masterton.

"It's also about Riversdale Beach and Castlepoint, and the rural areas."

Mr Daniell said he was firmly of the opinion a Wairarapa Unitary Authority was a "desirable and affordable concept" with Wairarapa people retaining control of their own destiny.