There are only six contenders in the race for Hamilton general constituency’s four seats on the Board of Waikato Regional Council(WRC) in this year’s election.
The six candidates are: Angela Strange, Bruce Clarkson, Chris Hughes, Jennifer Nickel, Meshweyla Macdonald and Russ Rimmington.
Angela Strange, Jennifer Nickel and Russ Rimmington are seeking to be re-elected.
Rimmington was also the chairperson until he was replaced on 9th May this year, due to concerns about some of his aired views.
Waikato regions are represented on the WRC- established as a local govt. body in 1989, by 14 elected council members, including four from Hamilton general constituency.
Know your candidates: To enable you (the voter) to make an informed decision, here below are each candidate’s brief profile, and what they stand for based upon their own statements:
Angela Strange: Angela who received the highest votes (22,921) in 2019, is a believer that governance decisions must consider the effects of a changing climate on communities, taking a long-term view for the benefit of future generations.
Among her achievements, she outlines having championed the extension of SuperGold Bee Card travel, the Flex OnDemand bus service, inter-regional connections, community transport, total mobility and proactively built partnership, etc. She also continues to advocate the Enviroschools programme, and is committed to prudent, long-term investment in infrastructure and services.
Bruce Clarkson: Bruce has an environmental science background and 40+ years of experience working at the interface of research, policy and practice, and has a strong track record of helping communities/iwi.
He is concerned that the WRC is not currently performing to its full potential. Therefore, he strongly believes his background is highly relevant to the councillor’s role. He expects to use his skills and expertise to help take a more collaborative, evidence-based approach to challenges that lie ahead, and is against compromising wellbeing of future generations.
Chris Hughes: Chris is a qualified accountant with a business background and former chair of an accountancy firm and Treasurer for Fieldays. In view of his accountancy background, he is assuring diligent control over rates, and is depending upon the motivated, united strength and power of this city what can be achieved.
He is strongly opposed to mandatory acquisition of Hamilton’s 3-Waters assets. He is contesting because he is opposed to mandatory co-governance without a major public debate about changing NZ’s constitutional framework.
Jennifer Nickel: Jennifer, who won the seat by securing 16570 votes in 2019, is a MSc from Waikato Univ., with a Graduate Diploma in Sustainability. She was earlier an environmental manager at Fonterra.
As Chair of the Climate Action Committee, she made climate change a strategic priority. She is keen to get Council move faster at improving public transport, reducing pollution, restoring nature, etc. After having imbibed fresh energy and thinking to the Council over the last three years, she is determined to do more and is, therefore, keen to be re-elected.
Meshweyla Macdonald: Meshweyla is a graduate in law and management (Waikato Univ), is a business owner, and works at the Council supporting young people to take positive action for community.
She believes in everyone taking a sensible approach to climate change; and maximise the wellbeing of residents and families. She assures that if elected, she will ensure intelligent, quality, and practical decisions are made on your behalf; creating a better Waikato, today and for our future, and that Council keeps rates stable.
Russ Rimmington: Russ, former mayor of Hamilton, WEL Energy chairman, who received 19706 votes in 2019, is now again ready to listen, ready to help. He was also the chairperson of Council until first week of May this year.
The three reasons he outlines for seeking a re-election are: to fight the Government’s 3-Waters Reform; strongly opposes Maori co-governance being mandated upon people without a referendum or public debate, and for his claims to have led Council through tough times, and his various achievements, incl. establishing the Te Huia train, moving Council into new premises under budget, etc.
Voting for the WRC seats closes at 12 noon on Saturday, 8 October 2022, and results will be available from 13th to 19 October 2022.
Also read: www.newsviews.co.nz/wrc-six-in-race-for-four-hamilton-seats-incl-three-current-councillors/
Tks, NewsViews, for taking initiative in making us aware of who the candidates are – it does help. Can we look fwd to having profiles of HCC candidates also?