BIG GUNS BACK ANTI STAN BID

Two of Whangarei's most successful businessmen have emerged as major players in a bid to oust mayor Stan Semenoff.
Businessman Mark Cromie is backing Whangarei mayoral hopeful Morris Cutforth, who the Northern Advocate understands is also supported by accountant and former councillor Wally Yovich.
The pair are amongst a contingent of Whangarei businesspeople whose concerns include council debt levels and commercial rate rises of up to 23 per cent.
Neither Mr Cromie nor Mr Yovich - who both have commercial property interests in Whangarei - would publicly confirm their support for Mr Cutforth, who made a surprise announcement on June 24 that he was standing for mayor.
Mr Cutforth is also supported by Northland Regional Councillors John Bain and Peter Jensen.
Mr Bain has admitted that he asked district councillor Vince Cocurullo to stand down from the mayoral race, to help Mr Cutforth's election chances.
Another mayoral candidate, Warren Slater, was offered a "top position" if he stood only as a ward councillor.
Mr Semenoff said he understood Mr Cromie had also been part of the attempt, which included offering Mr Cocurullo the deputy mayoralty if Mr Cutforth won.
Mr Semenoff said Mr Cromie was also involved in a dispute with the council over market rental rates for property leases.
Mr Semenoff said the regional councillors' interest in the mayoralty stemmed from a review of local government in Northland.
A new mayor who did not support the review would mean regional councillors would keep their salaries, he said.
"As for the rating issue, I am one of the group of business people unhappy about QV valuations driving up some commercial rates.
"I personally have been stung by major increases on some properties. Unfortunately for me, my rates have doubled."
The council had begun a review of the rating system to ensure certain anomalies are addressed.
"Many business people aware that QV valuations have caused these anomalies have expressed their gratitude for this review."
Meanwhile Mr Bain, who is also chairman of the Northland Emergency Services Trust (Nest), said there were only four known mayoral candidates - Mayor Semenoff, Mr Cutforth, Mr Slater and Mr Cocurullo - at the time he approached Mr Cocurullo.
Before he made the approach, a group of businessmen had met to discuss the mayoral race.
Mr Bain refused to say who was present.
Concerns included debt and rate rises.
"The council has started selling assets to pay off its debt and the main concern of the group of businesspeople was that the assets were gifted to the council by the harbour board."
Six other candidates - Terry Burkhardt, Don Hedges, Paul Jeeves, Mita Kayal Ruri, Isopo Samu and Simon Vallings - later filed nominations for mayoralty.
Mr Slater said Mr Bain's actions surprised him as he thought Mr Bain should be neutral in such matters.
Mr Cocurullo said he thought Mr Bain's request should have come from Mr Cutforth.
However, Mr Cutforth is adamant he did not ask Mr Bain to approach Mr Cocurullo.