Editorial: Whanganui will miss devoted champion

I COULDN'T help but be reminded of Bob Parker.

Parker was mayor of Christchurch and bidding for re-election in 2010, but trailing former deputy prime minister Jim Anderton in the polls.

Then on September 4 an earthquake hit the city, rescuing him from electoral oblivion. Parker was everywhere in his high-visibility vest, all over the TV news as he became the face of the Christchurch recovery and overturning Anderton's lead in the polls to be returned as mayor.

Flash forward to Whanganui and the June floods which ravaged the district. There was gumbooted Annette Main fronting the recovery ... calm, steady, determined, communicative and always available. Why, she even won Bouquet of the Week for her efforts.

I couldn't help but think it was votes in the bag, and there was no way she would not win the mayoralty in October 2016.

Of course, there was a way. She could stand down. Which she has.

After 18 years service on regional and district councils and a desire to spend more time with her family, no one could begrudge her for hanging up the mayoral chain - a decision she announced this weekend.

We will miss her.

The ubiquitous Ms Main has demonstrated a love and passion for Whanganui which is palpable. She has put herself front and centre of almost everything going on in the district, and she has spent countless hours out and about in the community - be it civic duties, manning a market stall, volunteer work, Diwali celebrations or as a fashion model at a cystic fibrosis fundraiser.

She has championed inclusiveness, never looking to serve one sector of the community over another, avoided the divisiveness of past administrations, and kept a steady hand on the economic imperatives that every local authority must make a priority.

Mayor Main has, of course, not pleased everyone.

Being a driving force behind the addition of the "H" to the district's name was always going to cost her support in some quarters. That did not deter her from sticking to her guns.

Her backing of the costly Sarjeant Gallery redevelopment was another potential electoral Achilles heel, while the problems of the wastewater treatment plant would damage anyone's political capital.

Still, she was never one to overtly court popularity - and next year she will not need to.

Ms Main is to remain in Whanganui and one hopes she will remain active in the community. We look forward to her making her presence felt in one way or another.