District councillor and former deputy mayor Andy Watson is running for mayor of Rangitikei this year.
He will will run against incumbent Chalky Leary and any other nominations in the mayoral race.
Mr Watson said he is passionate about Marton and Rangitikei and if elected he would ensure that constituents would always be well informed on council decisions.
"I want there to be more community involvement and more public meetings - not the ratepayers finding out what has already been decided when they haven't always had the time to have their say.
"The community need to be involved and I want to see that happen."
Mr Watson was deputy mayor for two terms before stepping back to councillor in this last term because of health issues. He said it had always been important to him to do things a little differently to how they were being done.
Setting up a finance and assets' committee would be a great start.
"There should be a committee for finance, especially in this day and age when things are tougher. The council need to be better equipped and organised, especially when high-cost projects, such as the Marton water supply is on the agenda."
A businessman who has lived in Marton most of his life, Mr Watson said he had been frustrated many times with the way the council was being run.
"And really, it's about our financial reality and awareness."
Mr Watson said it is about council being far better informed than it is at the moment.
Chalky Leary was unchallenged last time and is seeking re-election for a third term.
Mr Leary enjoys council work and really wants to be at the helm again for a third term. "Even though I live in Hunterville I have come to really love Marton. It's a great place."
Recently, the council was given a big tick in an independent assessment of local authority performance across the country.
Larry Mitchell, an independent local government finance and policy analyst, said in his 2012-13 local government league tables that Rangitikei had lifted from ninth place to third-equal and earned a "highly commended" comment.
Out of a possible total of 50 points, Mr Mitchell gave Rangitikei 38, which is only two points behind the front-runners, Clutha and Southland.
In terms of financial sustainability, Rangitikei earned 21 points on Mr Mitchell's table, bettered only by Napier.
Mr Leary had been very pleased with the league result.
"It's a pat on the back for our council and everyone in our council organisation," Mr Leary said.
There were no frills in our operation and council had worked hard to cut out excess in any part of our operation, he said.
Significant capital works had included the Hunterville and Taihape sewerage schemes.
"We have a very good team working for us and that's worth having and may it continue."