Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber and mayoral contender Margaret Murray-Benge. Photos / File, Supplied
Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber and mayoral contender Margaret Murray-Benge. Photos / File, Supplied
Long-serving councillor Margaret Murray-Benge is one of two candidates standing against the incumbent Garry Webber in the contest for the Western Bay of Plenty mayoralty.
Webber became mayor after former mayor Ross Paterson stepped down in 2016 and Murray-Benge has served as a councillor in the district for 15 years.
Murray-Benge is well-known for her campaigning for safer roads throughout the Bay of Plenty and is the chairwoman of the Joint Road Safety Committee.
Stephen Fawcett, a community volunteer, is also running for mayor.
He is the founder of Vector Group Charitable Trust, which, among other things, heads up Te Puke Film – an initiative to give youth and the community opportunity for creativity.
Webber lauds the improved financial performance of the council as being a stand-out achievement of his mayoralty, something he attributes to his business acumen.
Murray-Benge, Fawcett and Webber are three of 24 different people running for seats on Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The Western Bay wards cover the Kaimai area, Waihī Beach, Katikati, Maketū, Te Puke, and Ōmokoroa through 12 elected members.
The final candidate list shows those in the running are:
Mayor of Western Bay of Plenty - one seat: Margaret Murray-Benge; Garry Webber; Stephen Fawcett
Margaret Murray-Benge is throwing her hat into the mayoralty ring in the 2019 Elections. Photo / Supplied
Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber, who is contending for the role again in this year's local body elections. Photo / File
Kaimai Ward - four seats: Suaree Borell Mark Dean John Evans Murray Grainger Margaret Murray-Benge John Palmer Don Thwaites
Katikati-Waihī Beach Ward - three seats: Neil Candy John Clements James Denyer Anne Henry Christina Humphreys Tangiwai Manihera-Palmer David Marshall Allan Sole Kevin Tohiariki George Van Dyke
Maketū-Te Puke Ward - four seats: Grant Dally Stephen Fawcett Mike Lally Monique Lints Kevin Marsh John Scrimgeour
In addition to the councillor seats, 32 people are contending for a role on the district's community boards. They are:
Katikati Community Board - four seats: John Clements Neil Harray Christina Humphreys Norm Mayo Kate Sutherland George Van Dyke Ben Warren Kamal Yadav
Maketū Community Board - four seats: William Ra Anaru Shane Beech Juliette Brawn Wendy Mcfayden Laura Rae Stephan Simpson
Ōmokoroa Community Board - four seats: John Evans Peter Presland Derek Sage Teresa Sage Puran Bhag Singh
Te Puke Community Board - four seats: Richard Crawford Gina Davies Joan Dugmore Kassie Ellis Stephen Fawcett Larissa Hika Richard McNair Tupaea Rolleston Dale Snell
Waihī Beach Community Board: Ross Goudie Bob Hulme Marilyn Roberts Don Ryan
