Reynold Macpherson is to stand for the Rotorua mayoralty.
He will represent the Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers Inc (RDRR) group, formerly known as the Rotorua Pro-Democracy Society.
On Friday, the group voted between two candidates to represent it in the October mayoral race next year, with Mr Macpherson winning61 per cent of the vote. The other candidate was Rob Kent, who told the Rotorua Daily Post earlier this month he would stand for mayor whether or not he was the group's preferred candidate.
Mr Macpherson will lead a team that will support other candidates standing for the Rotorua Lakes Council.
Mr Macpherson said the group had broadened its purpose to include the reform of planning and financial management and to return policy-making powers to elected representatives.
He said policy making was being carried out behind closed doors when it should be councillors' roles to discuss them and sign them off. He said that caused "runaway expenditure".
"This is not a very smart way of managing council affairs on behalf of ratepayers."
The group felt its questions had never really been taken seriously and there seemed to be no respect for local opposition, he said.
"They know what is best and keep on pushing through their decision."
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said she wasn't surprised Mr Macpherson was to stand and she wasn't afraid of the challenge.
"I have fought these battles before and it will be entirely up for the community to decide ... My campaign will be positive and highlighting the good things. Everything Reynold stands for is negative really and the people will decide what direction to take."
