A Mayor for all seasons

Brian Jeffares said his wife Diann has always allowed him to do his own thing.
"She had faith in me," he said, even when they sold their businesses with no job prospects on the horizon.
Life as Mayor began when Brian turned 50, and after three terms, he's standing down at the next election. His approach to the community has probably kept him in the job as Mayor for the past nine years. When he first sat around the table as a councillor in 1995, he saw that the council was not representative of the community.
There were no women and no Maori, and he's still not sure why there is only one woman on the council nine years later.
Once in the job, he brought his office to the front and operated an open door policy.
Then the council got the Youth Council going with a better mix and gender.
He said it was still going well.
How does Brian see his tenure over the years?
Practical and small changes like lowering the street gutters, stand alongside the retention of the Stratford maternity services which galvanised the community to action.
The overnight change from a 240-litre rubbish to a recycling bin, and replaced by a 120-litre rubbish bin, was an example of success that Brian said was 'that something special about Stratford'.
"Stratford needs to be clever to retain our autonomy and maximise our regional scales of economy.
"Having two councils on either side, and as a group, we have been able to discuss the issues as a whole and resolve them on a regional basis."
But when you've been at the helm of a small community, it's hard to give up a life that has been fascinating, frustrating and fulfilling.
"People seek change, and I've done my dash."
And with Brian's change comes the next phase in local body politics.
His love of the community and region and the unique style of council that sits alongside the New Plymouth and South Taranaki District Councils, has kept its allure for the baby boomer.
He's not about to give up representing the Heart of Taranaki, and has announced his candidacy in the October Taranaki Regional Council elections.
"Taranaki farmers have made the changes (for sustainability) in style.
There was no big stick to get them to change practices, he said.
"They have effluent ponds and are planting out their lands."
They also monitored the nutrient run-off into the waterways and cared for the riparian margins.
And he singles out Basil Chamberlain, CEO of the TRC, as the most understanding guy he has ever met.
"He understands the issues and he talks to people about their responsibilities."
Brian's philosophical about his own style of leadership.
"You can't take things personally otherwise you won't survive. But you do strive for best practice in your models of leadership and representation."