Last week WDC councillor, Marie Olsen, announced she will be
challenging incumbent Vince Cocurullo for the mayoralty. Here are extracts from
her announcement speech.
“Marie for Mayor”
I am Marie Olsen and I am running for Mayor…
There are many things that need changing. There are three policies I am announcing today.
Policy #1 Putting Ratepayers FIRST!
I will not change the way councillors are elected without
first obtaining a mandate from the public. For example (FPP First Past Post or
STV Single Transfer Vote)… councillors should not change the way they are
elected without consulting the public. It’s ridiculous. It’s obscene. It will
not happen if I am your Mayor.
Not only will we not change the voting system without a
public mandate, I will have an annual poll so the community has a say in
setting the spending priorities. Road improvements versus cycleways? You choose…We
need a Council that engages with, and listens to the views and concerns of
ratepayers.
Democracy is all about the people of this County being able
to have a say. Honesty, transparency and respecting the Democratic process are
paramount to me and I will work hard to ensure that these expectations are met.
Policy #2
Making Rates Affordable
I will freeze rates for the first year of my term. I will fund this by eliminating wasteful
Council spending. I have seen this waste from the inside and I know it is
achievable. Last week I moved a motion that will come to Council in April,
asking that we withdraw from the Local Govt NZ. It’s a start that will save
ratepayers more than $100.000 a year, and it will send a message that the days
of wasteful spending are over.
Immediately after being elected, I will implement an external
review of all council spending…having staff review their own spending is not
acceptable.
I will focus on essential services like roading, water &
rubbish. The needs over the wants, or the be nice to haves.
Policy #3 Let’s
Get Whangarei Working
It’s been too tough doing business
with this Council. I want to change the Council’s culture from disabling to
enabling. A can-do Council, not a can’t – do council…
Besides the rates freeze, I will
review all Council fees and contributions and streamline the consenting process.
Central government has just announced changes to the Resource Management Act on
Tuesday this week, which is a positive move, which I will embrace.
As your Mayor, I will strive for democracy and transparency,
and build trust through actions, not words.
Things need to change!
I would like to follow in the footsteps of Mayors who had the
courage to stand up for what is right.
I would like to close with a quote that resonates with me. “The
pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The
realist adjusts the sails”. Strap in folks as the sails are about to be
changed.”