Mike Williams named Western Bay of Plenty District Council deputy mayor

Mike Williams has been appointed deputy mayor of the Bay of Plenty District Council. Photo/George Novak

Mike Williams has been appointed deputy mayor of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

The Katikati-Waihi Beach ward councillor was appointed deputy mayor yesterday.

Mr Williams said he was pleased with the appointment even though he had a sneaking suspicion he would get the role.

"I guess it indicates Garry has faith in what I can do," he told the Bay of Plenty Times.

Mr Williams said he was a good listener and someone who could see both sides of a debate.

"I really enjoy getting an outcome when there seems like there isn't one. The negotiation, seeing both sides of the story and coming to a consensus. That is really what it is all about."

Mr Williams said he was looking forward to being an approachable deputy. He said it was early days for how he and Mayor Garry Webber would perform in the role but there were certain things they both wanted to achieve.

"We really want to get down there [in the community] and have bottom-up approach, compared with a top-down approach.

"We want to go out and ask questions of what communities want us to do or change, or not do, rather than us telling them."

Mr Williams admitted Western Bay of Plenty rates were high, but they had been dropping over the past few years.

They were roughly $7000 five years ago, and have dropped to $5000 more recently.

Mayor-elect Garry Webber said he chose Mr Williams because of his experience gained over three consecutive terms, his qualification as a commissioner and his knowledge across a range of issues.

Local body experience

Mike Williams has served on various committees including operations, regulatory hearings, community (chairman) annual plan and long term plan sub-committee, finance and risk and policyand strategy.

He was a council member on the SmartGrowth Implementation Committee, the Joint Governance Committee of Tauranga City and Western Bay councils, Te Komiti Maori and has served on the community boards of Katikati and Waihi Beach.