Veterans fall to 'the rub of politics'

Allan Anderson

Not many people give 21 years of local body service as Randhir Dahya has done on the Wanganui District Council.

However, on Saturday, the voters signalled they wanted change and, after seven terms, Mr Dahya is gone.

In those seven terms he was the highest-polling candidate in five elections, but this time he dropped to 18th place.

"It's not the end of the world," he said yesterday, not entirely surprised with his result given he had not "tried very hard" in terms of campaigning.

"My vote on council was always more important than talking, so maybe people didn't think I was doing much because I wasn't saying much."

His one disappointment surrounds Wanganui's sister city relationship with Nagaizumi in Japan. "I felt I was the only one holding that relationship together."

He does believe his age sealed his fate. "You need time to come to grips with the way council works. Wisdom comes with age but, more importantly, age brings knowledge and that's vitally important."

Former councillor Allan Anderson was philosophical about finishing a few hundred votes short.

"While I never took anything for granted, I felt my achievements on council would be seen as deserving of a third term," Mr Anderson said.

He had opposed increasing debt, battled to retain parks and green spaces and helped secure $3 million of roading subsidies. "But that is the rub of politics and I have no regrets for what was a privileged two terms."

Mr Anderson retained his seat on the Whanganui District Health Board. but said he would not be standing for council again.