Vicar puts her hand up for candidacy

BY-ELECTION UNDER WAY: The Vicar of St Mark's Anglican Church in Carterton, Reverend Jenny Chalmers, is the first to declare her candidacy. PHOTO/FILE

The first candidate has declared her intention to stand for the vacant Carterton District Council seat.

Two days ahead of nominations officially opening, the Vicar of St Mark's Anglican Church Reverend Jenny Chalmers has signalled her intention to run, hoping to fill the seat left vacant after John Booth's promotion to mayor.

Rev Chalmers, who missed out on a council seat at the local body elections last year by only a handful of votes, said her work in the community would be a real asset to the council.

She is involved in several community groups including Whanau Aroha social services and family support, St John and Carterton's community-owned aged care facility, Carter Court.

Rev Chalmers has been at St Mark's for seven years, after moving to Wairarapa to support her elderly father, Paul Chalmers.

"I love the Carterton community. I love the way there's such a range of interesting people here - people who have moved here recently and people who have lived here for four or five generations."

"Carterton is a wonderful place and my husband and I feel lucky to call it home. It would be an honour to serve on Carterton's council."

Dick Booth is one of the people nominating Rev Chalmers. Nominations for the byelection open on November 24 and close on December 22.