Gould says he has experience to win race (+video)

Rotorua district councillor Mark Gould says he cares for the community and believes he has the experience to become the next mayor of Rotorua.

Mr Gould is the fifth person to announce a bid for the mayoralty in this year's election.

He will be taking on incumbent mayor Steve Chadwick, district councillor Rob Kent, Dr Reynold Macpherson and Rangimarie Kingi (Bosma) for the mayoral chains.

He also confirmed he will be running for both mayor and one of 10 seats on the Rotorua Lakes Council in October's elections.

"This is the first time I've run for mayor, but I've been on council for nine years and I believe I have the experience."

He decided he would run a number of months ago after people started telling him there were problems in Rotorua and they wanted to see change. High on his list of priorities are wastewater and sewage, roading, debt and the environment.

"We need to save money, the debt of the council is over $165 million and that will take some time to pay back. I can't reduce it in one term, it's going to take 20, 30, 40 years.

"Whether the portfolios are working will be decided by councillors after the election, as a collective, not as an individual."

He said the Government should be funding much more in the way of roading infrastructure in the district and wanted to see more invested into upgrading Te Ngae Rd, State Highway 36 to Tauranga and the Ngongotaha roundabout.

Nominations for mayoral and council candidates open this Friday and end on Friday, August 12.

Postal voting begins on Wednesday, September 21 and ends on election day, October 8.