After eight years as a council officer Steve Costelloe wants to sit with the councillors.
The former Rangitikei District Council employee is running for council in October's elections and said his inside knowledge and understanding of council would help in a governance role.
"To some extent it's poacher turned game keeper," he said.
"One of the big issues for me is the amount of money that gets spent contracting services which should actually be managed in house."
Mr Costelloe said contracting and shared services arrangements sounded like a money saving venture but he didn't believe it was.