The responsibilities of a councillor are considerable, but so are those of a candidate. To start with, they need to understand the legal requirements under which council operates.
There are some excellent resources on standing for local government published by our council, Local Government NZ and the NZ Society of Local Government Managers. Unfortunately, it appears at least one candidate hasn't bothered to read these: If he had, he'd know that no fewer than two acts of Parliament require local government to consult with iwi. It's not only right, it's the law.
Let's be clear, councillors need to work for all of us, not just those that look like them or who voted for them. As the LGNZ Candidate's Guide points out, the oath taken by a new councillor "identifies the need for elected members to use their best skills and judgment and to perform in the best interests of the whole community ... to reflect the wishes of most, rather than a sole group or special interest faction".
Attending council and sub-committee meetings is also vital homework for new candidates. I hear some councillors behave better when members of the public are watching - which is one reason to attend, but disappointing. You can't keep yourself nice when you're not being supervised?
I've no patience with childish squabbling and ego trips and won't be voting to return those councillors who have wasted time and money because of personal grievances and ill-advised comments.
Robust, informed debate? I'm all for that. But just as we teach our kids on the sports field, play the ball, not the man [sic].
Council chambers, just like any other workplace, are no place for personal attacks and other boorish behaviour. Ultimately it's voters who have to hold politicians to account.
I'm heartened by several young candidates stepping forward. It's unfortunate, though, that only 21 per cent of the candidates for Whanganui District Council are women; neither is the ethnic diversity of our district reflected.
I do have some misgivings about people running for mayor who have no experience at all in local government. It seems a bit presumptuous.
Why do people declare themselves qualified for council solely because of being business people? Yes, a councillor must be able to understand and analyse financial papers, but the council is not a business and I am tired of calls for it to be "more efficient".
"Efficiency" is virtually a code word. Here goes a neo-liberal conservative, it declares, one with a quasi-religious faith in the market, who believes everything important can be monetised (a detestable word both grammatically and conceptually).
Yes, council has a duty to be prudent with its budget and to manage its resources responsibly. I pay rates and I, too, find them dismayingly high here in Whanganui.
But the council's job is about more than money. A great council would make responsible financial decisions - and decisions that support a more cohesive, positive community and a cleaner, healthier environment.
Candidates: What are your ideas about planning for climate change mitigation? Take that question on notice - you will be asked.
-Rachel Rose is a writer, fermenter and gardener
