Editorial: Race for council seats begins

The nominations have closed and the race is under way. We now know who all the candidates are for this year's local body elections, and it looks like it will be a fascinating battle for the right to take a leading role in running the district.

At the 2010 poll, three candidates put their names forward in the mayoral race. This time, five locals are gunning for the top job and only one of those, incumbent Kevin Winters, is on the council now.

Meanwhile, there's guaranteed to be more movement among the 12 council seats than at the last election. In 2010, 11 sitting councillors were re-elected, with the 12th spot taken by former councillor Mark Gould. (Merepeka Raukawa-Tait was also elected in a mid-term by-election replacing Geoff Kenny).

It was a ringing endorsement from the voters, especially considering some of the capable and high-profile candidates who missed out.

At the two previous elections, just 67 per cent (2007) and 58 per cent (2004) of councillors were re-elected.

This time there will be at least two new faces at the council table after Maureen Waaka's passing and with Maggie Bentley stepping down.

The 10 remaining councillors and Mayor Winters are all standing again, and sharing the ballot are many names, some more familiar than others.

Thirty-one people are standing for the 12 council seats - that's more candidates than at any of the past three elections.

What the final shape of the council will mean for the dynamic around the council table, and what that ultimately means for local residents, we wait to see.

The message for candidates is: good luck - in the end it's not about who you are but what you do for Rotorua.

The message for voters is: vote. This is your city and this is your chance to have your say.