Candidates vie for vacant seat

NAME FORWARD: Andy Thompson. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Two candidates are running for the Tararua District Council seat left vacant by the resignation of Warren Davidson.

The council has received nominations from Peter Johns and Andy Thompson, who will stand for the southern ward seat in the October by-election.

Mr Davidson resigned from the council in July, citing "unacceptablebehaviour" and "bullying" from mayor Roly Ellis and chief executive Blair King.

The council has since announced it has commissioned an external review, which is due to be completed before the end of the year.

Mr Thompson, who has a lifestyle block at Ballance and runs an HR consultancy business, said one of the reasons he was keen to run was to contribute to Tararua's "diverse and interesting community".

"I've an interest and a deep desire to give something back to a community that's been pretty good to me.

"It's got some really great things that happen and it's an opportunity for me to be involved with that."

He had been encouraged to run by Bill Keltie, whose wife Carol nominated him for the by-election.

Mr Thompson, 55, moved to the district in 1989.

He went to high school in Dannevirke and has a graduate diploma in Business Studies from Massey University.

He was the company secretaryfor Tararua Roading Limited in the early 1990s and has worked for New Zealand Police, the Prison Service and Carter Holt Harvey.

He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Managementand the Pahiatua Golf Club.

Also in the running is former councillor and Woodville communityboard member Peter Johns, who said he believed Woodville should be represented on the council.

"I've been heavily involved in community affairs for quite a number of years and council is an extension of that - and I also believe in the southern ward, that the three wards have direct representation."

One issue he was particularly concerned about was water, Mr Johns said.

"There's a lot of talk and very little action."

Mr Johns, 68, grew up in Palmerston North and has lived in the district for 33 years.

Now retired, he has worked in real estate as well as farming and is on the executive committeeof the Woodville Community Board.

He is the chairman of the Woodville Recreation Trust, the Woodville Hall Trust, a Lions Club member and the president of the Pahiatua Golf Club.

Mr Johns was nominated for the by-election by Bruce Hutton and Gerrard Murray.

Postal voting for the by-election opens on October 6 and closes on October 28.