Paul Taggart
There was hope in some quarters that the falling-by-the-wayside at the recent Napier City Council election of some "colourful" characters would result in a more responsible approach in the council chamber. A team where the main news it generated was city betterment, not internal bickering.
Therefore a report that newbie
councillor Deane Jessep is already showing the potential to be colourful is likely to cause a degree of anxiety among his more conservative colleagues.
Yesterday Mr Jessep admitted running up thousands of dollars in parking and vehicle compliance fines - and to drip-feeding payments of the money he still owes to his own council.
It could be argued that if the ratepayers of Napier choose to elect a 25-year-old, they are likely to be saddled with 25-year-old values, of which financial prudence and a passion for debt reduction are not usually top of the list.
Student loans have made many young people blase about debt, although the scheme can't be blamed for Mr Jessep's tardy approach, as he is not equipped with a university degree, instead having chosen the entrepreneurial route in life, being involved with a number of businesses, some successful, some less so.
The fact that the fines are being paid off is noteworthy, although now he has a handsome additional income from his council position it would seem only reasonable that he pay his employers - the people of Napier - the money he owes them in short order.
There again, one of BMW-driving Mr Jessep's recently quoted ambitions is to own a holiday house in Tuscany. It can be assumed that one way to reach that particular goal quickly would be to take what is owed, while not paying what is due until it is absolutely necessary.
But it is the example Mr Jessep sets for ratepayers that is the major concern. If they collectively chose not to pay what the council demands of them, but instead decided to drip-feed their rates over a period of years, while spending their money on luxury German cars and salting a bit away for an Italian holiday villa, what state would the city's finances be in?
It is probably a good time for Mayor Barbara Arnott to take young Mr Jessep to one side and have a quiet word in his ear.
