Mayoral candidate Helen Craig has called for an attendance-based pay system for Whanganui district councillors.
A first-term councillor, she says people expect councillors to attend meetings and wants a system of pay for those who attend meetings debated by the next council.
"The public is looking for accountability. Obviously some councillors aren't able to attend everything, and there are some major gaps in the attendance."
Mrs Craig said there needed to be a mechanism to reward and encourage attendance.
"Any job you get paid for when you attend - this would be one of the few jobs that you get paid no matter what," she said.
"When we bring this in, it will help to raise the reputation of council and I will be bringing this idea to the table."