Jim Adams has launched a petition to have Glenys Searanke reinstated to her previous roles.
Jim Adams has launched a petition to have Glenys Searanke reinstated to her previous roles.
A petition has been launched to have long-serving Rotorua district councillor Glenys Searancke reinstated to her previous roles, less than nine months before she stands down from the council.
The petition is being run by Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers group member Jim Adams and has been endorsed by thegroup's chairwoman, demoted councillor Mrs Searancke.
In early December Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick asked Mrs Searancke to stand down from her role as chairwoman of the group citing a conflict of interest.
Mrs Searancke refused to stand down so Mrs Chadwick removed her as leader of the Rotorua Lakes Council Creative Communities portfolio, and as the council's representative on the Civic Arts Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Trust and Bay of Plenty Regional Council public transport sub-committee.
Mrs Searancke has already stated she would not be seeking re-election in October's council elections.
The petition states: "We, the undersigned residents and ratepayers in the district, earnestly request that the mayor reinstate councillor Searancke to all positions of responsibility from which she was removed."
Mr Adams said he believed the decision was made just before the Christmas break "in the hope that it would fade from public memory".
"I wanted this petition to make it clear that it hasn't and won't until Glenys is reinstated," Mr Adams said.
