Mayor unchallenged, little impetus for change

RANGITIKEI District citizens seem set to end up with a new council that's little different to the one that has governed the district for the past three years.
The clearest indicators of that are the lack of an election for the mayoralty, the low voter turnout so far and the small number of candidates challenging incumbents for seats on the new council.
As of yesterday, only 27 per cent of eligible electors had returned their voting papers although returns for the Hunterville, Marton and Turakina wards were slightly higher at 37.9 per cent, 28 per cent and 29.5 per cent respectively.
The lack of interest in the election largely stems from the fact that Mayor Chalky Leary has already been elected unopposed for his second term in office. He becomes the district's first mayor in 21 years to be returned without challenge.
And that comes as no surprise given that under Mr Leary's leadership the council has flown well below the public and media radar almost to the point where the council and councillors have been close to invisible.
The only issue that gained any media attention was the council's unfortunate blunder over the Dudding Lake camping and picnic area, west of Marton. The pursuit of profit resulted in the council using little sense in entering a lease agreement with new campground operators who, just a few months later, pulled out of the agreement. The council's intention to put the property up for sale drew a hostile reaction from the Marton community. Ultimately, the campground was taken over by a group of local businessmen with the aim of restoring it as a popular place for camping, picnicking and aquatic activities.
Other than that, the council has put on a steady-as-she-goes performance with nothing to really excite (or aggravate) ratepayers in any part of the district.
The most hotly contested ward this election is Marton where five newcomers - Michelle Bisset, Sharon Brosnan, Anne George, Belinda Howard and Richard Peirce are standing against the four sitting councillors for the four available ward seats.
Looking to retain their jobs are long-serving councillors Andy Watson (presently deputy mayor) and Lynne Sheridan (with nine years' experience) along with first-term councillors Kathleen Murphy and Mike Jones.
At the top end of the district, Taihape is the least contested ward with all three candidates elected unopposed.
Back on council are veterans in local body politics Ed Cherry and Jan Byford who are joined by Mangaweka gallery owner, Richard Aslett who, for the past three years, has chaired the Taihape Community Board.
He replaces Don Brown, a one-term councillor not seeking re-election.
At the southern end of the Rangitikei, in the Bulls ward, incumbents Jill Strugnell (the council's elder stateswoman) and first-term councillor Sarah Harris are looking to retain their seats. The sole challenger is Bulls businesswoman Michelle Fox making her first foray into local politics.
In the central wards, the sitting councillors - Grant Collie (Hunterville) and Soraya Peke-Mason (Turakina) face one challenger each.
Mr Collie, a first-term councillor, is up against Hunterville farmer Dean McManaway while farmer/journalist Andrew Stewart has his sights set on the Turakina ward seat Mrs Peke-Mason has held for the past three years.
In terms of the election of councillors for the Horizons Regional Council, Rangitikei electors could be seen as being spoiled for choice.
On the ticket for the Rangitikei-Manawatu constituency are Marton-based agricultural contractor Bruce Gordon, who has already served two terms on the regional council and Mangaweka farmer Ruth Rainey whose credentials include long-time involvement in farming politics.
Their opponents for the two available seats are current Rangitikei-Manawatu Federated Farmers president Gordon McKellar and farm consultancy business operator Bruce Mills, both of whom come for the Manawatu side of the Rangitikei River.
Electors have just three days until voting closes (at noon on Saturday, October 9).