He had originally planned to announce his candidacy in July for October’s election, but the ongoing wastewater saga — and the number of people asking him if he was running, prompted him to throw his hat in now, he said.
He was soon heading overseas and would not be back until early July.
The owner-operator of Kinloch Wilderness Retreat for the past 25 years with wife Toni also has a home in Frankton, from where their children went to high school.
In a statement announcing his candidacy, he described the relationship between the council and its stakeholders as "broken".
He would campaign to "restore community confidence" in the council through greater openness and empowering councillors.
Notable on his policy plank is inviting a Crown observer to look into the council’s handling of some recent thorny issues: the Shotover wastewater treatment plant, Lakeview development, the recently completed arterial bypass and the council’s proposed "Project Manawa" civic building.
He said the district’s ratepayers deserved a "fully functioning council that’s laser-focused on managing costs, sticking to essentials and listening to our community".
Asked about his endorsement by outspoken councillor Niki Gladding, he said she was one of a "tiny handful" of people he told about his candidacy a few days before going public.
He supported the work she had done to improve governance and oversight at the council.
"Niki’s a well-read, hard-working and detail-focused person.
"Sometimes people feel uncomfortable and defensive dealing with individuals like that, when the reality is we should welcome the fact that someone is doing the heavy lifting."
Mr Glover said his lack of councillor experience was not a handicap, as he had become familiar with council processes through two decades of community involvement, which had included speaking at council meetings, reading agendas and making submissions and grant applications.
"You’d be amazed how many people I meet who think I’m already on council."
He said he had not sought or received any donations towards his campaign.
