Morgan gets nod as deputy mayor

Sharon Morgan, chairwoman of Whangarei Art Museum when this photo was taken with museum curator Scott Potham, is the new Whangarei deputy mayor. Photo / File

The job of deputy mayor has gone to the Whangarei District Councillor who has twice been re-elected unopposed.

Third term councillor Sharon Morgan, of the Maungatapere/Mangakahia Ward, was named deputy mayor by new mayor Sheryl Mai yesterday.

"Sharon was the perfect person for the job," said Ms Mai, who was a councillor for one term on the same Stan Semenoff-led council as Ms Morgan some years ago.

"She was the hardest working councillor I've ever seen. She was re-elected twice unopposed so she obviously has the confidence and support of her community.

"Sharon has what it takes and I know we will form a great team."

Ms Mai said she wanted councillor Morgan to take up the role of deputy as early as possible to give clarity to the new council.

Ms Morgan was unavailable for comment at edition time.

However, before the election, commenting on the fact no-one stood against her, Bob Jamieson, the chairman of the Mangakahia Sports Ground committee which Ms Morgan is also on, said: "She is very active in the district and the community at all levels."

"She's involved in virtually, if not every, community organisation and you can always contact her if you want information or advice. People out here feel she represents them pretty well - if we didn't, we'd get somebody else in."

As for the new council and its mayor, the past week has been spent going over the roles, powers and responsibilities of a mayor, the structures, systems and major projects within the council.

Ms Mai said that while she made the deputy mayor call, she would take a more consultative approach when it came to choosing chairs of committees and other councillor roles.

"I have valued the opportunity to seek advice on committee structures and start developing our vision for the way this district will go forward."

The council will be sworn in at a public ceremony in the Capitaine Bougainville Theatre, Forum North, on October 30. The first full meeting, where structures will be adopted and appointments formalised, will be on November 13.