Mayoral campaigns look to win Raglan votes

On Wednesday afternoon (31st July) , Raglan 23 gave mayoral candidates for the Waikato District in this year’s 2013 local government elections, the opportunity to put their case to the voters of Raglan. They were asked a series of questions and the chance to add those responses. The first candidate to reply was Noel Smith.  Thanks Noel.  Good to see you quick off the mark.

We’ll be progressively publishing their responses, in the order they are received, and  then move on to ward councillor and community board candidates.

Received on 1st August from Noel Smith, mayoral candidate for Waikato District.

I’m Noel Smith, and I’m standing for Mayor because Waikato District ratepayers deserve sound, strong and more professional leadership.

I have been a WDC councillor for the Newcastle ward for the past six years, so I have had plenty of time to reflect on ways we could improve what we do at WDC.

During this time on Council, I have been, or currently am, Chairman of the Roading committee, Deputy-Chairman of the Regulatory committee, a Member of the Regional Passenger Transport Committee (now disbanded), Chairman of the Regional Council Central Drainage Committee and a member of the Policy, Strategy and Finance, and Rural Wards committees.

During the past six years, I became a Certified Hearings Commissioner (RMA) and have been a Member of the Hearings panel for both the Waikato Regional Transport Plan and the Waikato Public Transport Plan. So, I’m well aware of the importance of the Raglan bus service and the issues that have surrounded it.

And, of interest to Raglan, I am the Regional Civil Defence Delegate for WDC, and I can assure you that Raglan’s own position in the event of a civil emergency is debated often.

My time as a WDC councillor has given me an in-depth knowledge of how the Council works, across all its business units, and my previous professional background has added some valuable experiences that clearly point out areas for improvement across the Council.

I served as a Police Officer for 14 years, in Auckland, Hamilton and Huntly, and worked in Raglan for two months immediately after John Gower went to Hamilton. I went on to take a position as District Manager for the Ministry of Justice (Courts) for nine years before standing for Council. I am a JP, and also continue to run my own farm in Te Kowhai, breeding, showing and judging pedigree Hereford cattle – an interest of mine for the past 32 years.
I have been married to Betsy for 35 years and we have three adult children.

Three top issues across the District for Council

1.  Better Customer Service achieved by strong professional leadership from the Mayor, Greater accountability through more focused performance targets for the CEO and supported by bringing Councillors together as a strong team.
2.  Promotion of economic development across the district but ensuring costs/debt associated with growth and development are managed so as not to disadvantage the average rate payer.
3.  The shape of local government going forward – I am currently very much against amalgamations of Councils especially with Hamilton city. Research has shown that Councils that work together can and do save considerable sums of money and thus lower the costs to Ratepayers. The recent amalgamation of the Waikato District with the southern part of the Franklin District has cost just over $3.8 million dollars. That cost was not borne by ratepayers but any future amalgamations that occur will be at ratepayer cost.

Two top Council issues for Raglan

1. In 2012 I tried to get Council to give the Community Boards more powers to administer the affairs of their local communities, including the Raglan Community Board. The majority of Councillor’s were opposed to that but if elected Mayor I would try again to achieve that for Raglan and our other towns with Community Boards.
2. Maintaining the character of the town. Retaining essential services such as public transport for the community would also be a priority.

My connection to Raglan

1. I don’t have a direct connection to Raglan other than as a youth and parent enjoying family times at the beach at Raglan.
2. As Chairman of the Roading & Transport Committee I have lobbied Council for additional funding of the bus routes – firstly the extension from Te Uku for the afternoon bus, then the provision of the Whatawhata bus so the morning & afternoon Raglan buses were not overcrowded and thirdly for the $15,000 per annum to reinstate and provide the Sunday bus services.
3. I also led the resolution of the main street resealing debacle last Christmas and eventually convinced Council, supported by Cr Baddeley, to put down the smooth road surface over the chip seal.

  My view on limiting rate increases.

1. In 2007, when I first stood for Council, I stood on a platform of reducing rate increases. I did that because I was fed up with Council year on year taking more and more money when there was apparently nothing to show for it.
2. During my first Annual Plan the then Mayor threatened to take me outside if I asked any more questions why we spent money on another item. I am not afraid to challenge expenditure and whether it is necessary to spend it.
3. My thoughts are that if household income is not rising then how can Council demand more from ratepayers and so I push for the lowest rates increase possible whilst maintaining what services we already have.
4. Issues particular to Raglan and some of our other towns relate to the increase in Targeted rates. The rates have increased way beyond the general rate increase. Historically Waikato District Council has not reflected the true cost of providing some targeted services (waste & stormwater) and the Council now finds it has a shortfall of funds to provide those services. I do favour costs being met by those who require that service. I am not in favour of what Council has decided to do in some cases – that Council is rating people who do not have the service to assist pay for the service eg) All rate payers are being charged to fund the septic tank (from farms) waste plant at Huntly because the true cost may put rural people off emptying their septic tanks. This is an unfair burden on urban ratepayers.