Candidates' answers will reveal their real agenda

GROWING BUSINESS
Succesful candidates in the 2010 local government elections will play a critical role in leading Tauranga city, not just for the next three years, but in planning for growth that will see Tauranga become the third largest city outside Auckland within the next decade.
Very competent local leaders are needed - but will we get them?
The agencies involved in economic development covering the creative, tourism and business sectors have been working together to encourage a wider participation in the voting process.
The combined stakeholders of the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Bay of Plenty, Export NZ (BOP), Creative Tauranga and Priority One exceed 11,000. These agencies asked the 51 candidates in the forthcoming elections their views on the issues that are crucial to building a vibrant city for the future.
The questions that were asked were:
1. What is your vision for Tauranga city over the next 10 to 20 years?
2. What initiatives will you support that will assist to grow the business environment in Tauranga city?
3. What initiatives will you support that will ensure Tauranga city becomes a major destination for visitors?
4. What are your priorities for infrastructural investment in Tauranga city over the next 10 years?
5. What specific role, if any, do you think the council has in supporting arts and related leisure amenities to attract skilled people, business and investment?
6. What do you believe should be done to ensure Tauranga has a vibrant city centre?
7. What are the main issues you support in order of priority?
The answers to each of the 39 out of 51 candidates' responses (a 76 per cent response rate) is recorded on the Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.tauranga.org.nz/services/advocacy/elections-2010.html, and makes fascinating reading.
For anybody in business, be it as an owner, a manager or an employee, it is well worth spending half an hour browsing the answers that the candidates you are deciding between have recorded.
So, what are some of the tips to choosing good candidates and casting an effective vote?
One way is to consider what you are voting for, not whom. By deciding what is important to you, you can then choose who is the best person to deliver it. The true citizen would also ask, "What is best for the greater good?"
It's obviously important to differentiate the existing councillors from the prospective ie comparing past performance with potential performance. It's best to deal with them separately. Decide what handful of big things are important to you, and then rank the existing councillors according to those criteria, based on their past performance.
The seven topics above are a good start, but you may also like to look at their decision making record. Above all they are elected to make decisions, so did they do so, or did they delay and slow down the process? Were they well prepared, and had a good grasp of the issues at hand? Did they descend into operational issues or keep up at the governance level (as they should), and let the staff get on with doing their work. Did they participate in the best interests of the city, or were they driven by a different agenda?
The ultimate question for a sitting candidate should be, "Is the city better off for that politician's tenure?" If you have to hesitate for too long to find the answer, don't vote for them. There are plenty of driven and capable people putting up their hands this time around.
When examining the prospective newbies, take your handful of criteria, and check them against their own material, or the answers on the Chamber website.
In life success in the past is normally is an indicator of future performance, so if a new candidate has had a successful career in one field, look closely at them. A history of working effectively in a team for a common goal is also to be valued, especially given the current fractious atmosphere.
Now is the time to throw all trust out the window and question sceptically. Decide if they have no other career options and need the income.
Alternatively has the candidate got a history of community service - is their heart in the right place? And beware of the tactic of candidates promising what they can't deliver.
Above all, make a decision now to complete that voting form, and encourage your colleagues and friends to do the same.
Max Mason is chief executive of Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, which provides networking and support services for local businesses. He can be contacted on email: max@tauranga.org.nz or phone: (07) 577 9823.