The Otago Daily Times is profiling mayoral candidates in Otago's heartland. Today, David Bruce talks to Greg Smith, standing in Waitaki.
That is one of the reasons he is standing for the Waitaki mayoralty, as well as the Corriedale ward as a councillor on the Waitaki District Council.
Mr Smith knows rates is one of the issues in the district, and he has developed a plan to see that something is done about that.
He believed there was no more important time to have strong council leadership to prepare the district for all the changes the community was facing now and in the future.
The council should be serving the needs of the people and, if elected, he would see that was what happened.
Why are you standing for mayor?
''Because we have a great district and I want to see it grow and develop so that people will continue to come here into the future. I want to help make the choices that our district needs - waste services that actually work for us, keeping rates at an affordable level for everyday people; having a council that focuses on the core services it should be delivering while encouraging private enterprise to grow and strengthen the district.''
Will you be a full-time mayor and why?
''Yes, the district deserves a mayor who works as hard as its residents. To do the district justice, it requires more than a 9-to-5 attitude.''
What position do you think the district is in?''We've been told we're in a good financial position, yet there's a $3 million dollar debt with no plan to pay it back. The 2012 annual report says that we have a net debt of $1988 per rateable property.
''We have a good farming industry that's driving our rural communities, but in the urban centres we need a big push for growth.''
What are three issues facing the in-coming council and why?
''Rates: Keeping them fair, not giving certain wards 20% and higher rate rises, while keeping others unchanged.
''Waste: A total rethink. Just look at the residents survey - only 36% of surveyed residents are satisfied with current waste services provided by the council; people want kerbside pick-up, including recycling. We've got resource recovery parks and can be using them more efficiently. We need to work with the private sector to get services that work for the whole district.
''Remembering the whole district: I am told continually by people in smaller areas of the district that they feel forgotten about. We are a big district and need to make sure we are providing services that work for everyone.''
What would be one thing you would like to have achieved by the end of your term, and why?
''If I have to narrow it down to just one thing it would be having residents in our district knowing where their rates are being spent, so we as ratepayers can truly decide what is most important to us.''
