Paul Mutch has again put his hand up again and will be standing against incumbent Gary Kircher.
The Otago Field Days chairman, who first ran in 2019, has announced his intention to stand for mayor in October’s local body elections, and said he wanted to see some changes in the Waitaki district.
The 71-year-old, who has more than 50 years’ experience in infrastructure directorial roles, said he would base his campaign on three pillars: education, enterprise and environment.
Mr Mutch lives in Waikouaiti, but said he would relocate to the Waitaki district if elected as mayor.
He is involved in the district as a Palmerston and Waihemo A&P Show committee member, and recently retired as the Waikouaiti Riding for the Disabled chairman.
If he was elected, council staff and councillor morale and wellbeing would be paramount, he said.
He also wanted to see a ‘‘radical’’ change in how small and medium projects were handled, and believed deliberation and ‘‘push-back’’ led to more cost without improvement.
Mr Kircher, who has been mayor since 2013, has also confirmed he hopes to win a fourth term as the region’s mayor.
In 2019, Mr Mutch joined Katrina Hazelhurst and Mr Kircher in the mayoral race.
Mr Kircher was elected mayor, receiving 5537 votes to Mrs Hazelhurst’s 2169 and Mr Mutch’s 763.
