Gary Kircher
Age: 46 years.
Occupation: Economic development adviser, businessman.
Marital status: Married to Kerry with two children; three children now adults from first marriage.
Council experience: Councillor since 2001, deputy mayor since 2007, past chairman of hearings committee, chairman of harbour subcommittee.
Describe yourself in three words: "Experienced, effective, moderate."
Waitaki deputy mayor Gary Kircher believes he has the experience and motivation to be Waitaki mayor - and do a better job than incumbent Alex Familton.
He has been a district councillor representing the Oamaru ward since 2001 and now wants to step up to the top position - and that is all he wants.
Mr Kircher is pinning all his hopes on being elected mayor to remain on the council, as he is not seeking re-election as a councillor.
"I'll be focusing my attention on the main job [as mayor]."
So, why do you think you would make a good mayor?
I've got a history of being quite hands-on, of getting things done ... and take the community along with us - like the harbour [development] and so on.
You know, we have made sure we have taken into account as many views as possible and then got on and done what needs to be done.
I probably would add, I do know how the system works and the legislation that governs us - you can't underestimate that.
You have to have a good understanding of how that works so you can make the best impact.
What have you achieved in the last three years?
Me, personally? The work around the harbour, which are the first major works around there in the last 25 years.
Things like getting the district plan operative.
It's a big step but to most people it doesn't actually mean a heck of a lot.
I guess progressing the district plan - it gives a clearer idea where we are going.
It also gets a bit frustrating, too, that we appear to be on the cusp of things happening but they need a push along to happen.
The industrial park - that whole area out there [the council is planning an industrial park just north of Oamaru).
In my economic development work, talking to people about opportunities - they want to expand and so on but the lack of suitably positioned industrial land with appropriate services is really stifling that.
Going back to the last three years, the foundation work that has been done on the Alps to Ocean cycleway, where there has been some progress made, partly within council and partly within the community.
It's going to be a huge boost to the whole Waitaki Valley area, Oamaru and - if we do it right - it's going to be spread throughout the rest of the district as well.
What would you like to achieve as mayor in the next three years?
A review of the funding policy [which determines rates] to get a better equity about who is paying for what.
Particularly in the farming area, where there are inequities in there.
They are paying more for some things than they should and the argument that some of the key things they have they may not be paying enough.
I'd like to review the delegations to community boards to make them more effective.
What do you mean?
More appropriate decision-making, so they don't go to their meetings and talk about potholes.
More involved in governance-policy side of things, but still being important as eyes on the ground.
What position do you think the district and its council is in?
Financially it [the council] is in a very good position.
"As far as the relationship with the community, that is something I want to see improved.
There are certain regulatory roles we have to have, but employees need to work well with people whom they deal with.
I see the council more as an enabler.
When people want to get on and do things, it's not overly bureaucratic and the processes people have to go through are appropriate for what they want to do.
What challenges does the district face over the next five years?
Funding is top of the list every time, I think.
We have to broaden the rating base as much as possible.
How do you plan to campaign for the mayoralty?
A lot of people do know me, a lot of people don't [so he plans] to get out there and talk to as many people as possible.
I'm putting billboards up throughout the district with two slogans, "Affordable Progress" and "Experienced, Effective".
"Affordable Progress"?
Under the previous mayor [Alan McLay], people saw too many things happening all at once, becoming too expensive and unsustainable.
Under the current one [Alex Familton], not much happened at all.
While the whole council got to the point that this [year's] rates rise was the lowest for a long time, we had to work to get that.
There is no plan how we are going to repeat that [low rates rise] and we need to work on that.
"Experienced, Effective"?
'I've also been effective in a whole lot of things, small and big things I've caused to happen or been a big part of it happening.
And moderate because progress needs the right balance of getting on and being affordable.
The postal voting period is September 17 to October 9 (closing at noon).
