EDITORIAL: Don't just sit there, join the fray

Louis Pierard
Little over three working days remain before nominations close for the local body elections.
While many would-be councillors have already declared their candidacy, a few hold back, tactically scanning the field.
That is particularly so for these elections in which there are hybridised at-large and ward systems for both twin city territorial authorities: Napier for the first time and Hastings with four wards merged into two.
A recurrent and vaguely depressing feature of the triennium is the lack of public engagement in the process. Many are moved by council decisions that affect them but once the inflammation has subsided they seldom register an interest at the ballot box, let alone stand for council themselves (though for some, a single issue can ignite a career in politics).
There will be those still pondering whether to step forward or back. A public life that's occasionally stormy is not to all tastes; and for the conscientious, the greater reward for such a time-consuming job is simply the satisfaction of public service. Nevertheless, the more populated the field, the greater the potential for quality representation on councils (and, hopefully, the chance of inspiring more voters to take the trouble of making choices).
Each city has its own "issues" that generally stem from councils having to make hard decisions to promote and accommodate growth. For Hastings, Nelson Park and Splash Planet are recurring nightmares. More recently the Ocean Beach development has generated plenty of controversy.
Napier City Council was capable of creating its own problems with its divisive factions. These days the more combustible issues (apart from the naming of the Orotu subdivision) include heavy traffic on Marine Parade and the future of dolphins and Marineland.
For many ratepayers, however, debt and the cost of supporting such institutions will always remain the crucial issues.
Democracy allows citizens to opt out of the process (though it doesn't prevent them having a forthright opinion).
Selecting a group of representatives who can best serve their communities as stewards of public funds and aspirations, whether on a city, district, regional council or health board, means having intelligent, hardworking candidates who can communicate their ambitions, make realistic promises and keep them. It also means voters interested and wise enough to acknowledge the responsibility required of them to make to informed, sensible choices.
In the coming weeks we will be playing our part in making sure both those expectations are met. We will be examining the achievements of local authorities and councillors, explaining how they work and what is yet required of them. We will also be holding candidates' meetings so that voters can see first-hand, how sitting and prospective councillors perform. And we welcome your questions, which we can put to candidates for their considered response. The key is: Be involved.