Rotorua's former mayoral candidates look forward to next year's election

The 2019 mayoral contest is still up in the air. Photo / Supplied

One year out from the local body elections and some of 2016's mayoral candidates are weighing up another shot at the big seat.

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick secured her win in 2016 with 8990 votes, Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers secretary Reynold Macpherson came in second with 6127 votes and councillor Rob Kent came in third with 3328.

Reynold Macpherson. Photo / Supplied

Macpherson said he would run for mayor again in 2019 if he was endorsed early next year by the Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers (RDRR) group.

"I have had a career turning sick organisations around," he said.

In his 2016 bid for mayor, Macpherson ran a campaign promising to do away with councillor-led portfolios and review all council-controlled organisations, parking policies and rubbish collection.

He said his focus was now on "putting up an even stronger team to stop the waste, reform governance and consult properly before setting priorities".

"[The RDRR] will commit to preventing wastewater going into the lake, ending legacy and vanity projects, compressing costs, driving up efficiencies in management and cutting PR."

Rob Kent. Photo / Supplied

Kent, however, said he was undecided on whether to run again.

"I think Steve is doing an excellent job, she just needs a change in those around her to keep moving forward in a more financially sensible way.

"I don't believe at this stage we have a viable alternative to her."

Other 2016 mayoral candidates Rangi Marie Kingi, John Rakei-Clark and Frances Louis could not be reached for comment. Mark Gould declined to comment.