The first-term councillor yesterday announced his candidacy for the mayoralty in this year’s local body elections.
He was elected to council in February last year after a by-election triggered by the resignation of former deputy mayor Toni Biddle.
At the time he received almost half the total votes.
Cr Lush said the support of the community and other leaders led him to make the decision to run for the top job.
"I put a lot of thought into it. Several people have asked me to run — even mayors from other towns thought that I would be good and that I was the person needed to take the city forward."
Cr Lush said there seemed to be some apathy around this election as many people had approached him to say they would not vote this time.
This was a huge concern for him.
"I loved my first year at the council, but there are frustrations there."
His main objective was to make the city an attractive place where people would be excited to live.
"We are in a situation where we can’t attract doctors, dentists. People don’t seem to be moving to Invercargill.
"We need to build a place where families can’t wait to move to with playgrounds, museums - just a real liveable city.
"We haven’t done that. All the focus has been on rates or in rental cars ..."
The Invercargill race now has nine candidates vying for the mayoral role.
Incumbent Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt, councillor Darren Ludlow, deputy mayor Nobby Clark, former NZ First list MP Ria Bond, former deputy mayor Toni Biddle, TikTok influencer Tom Morton, Steve Chernishov and Bluff Community Board member Noel Peterson are the other candidates.
While he said he had respect for Sir Tim, Cr Lush believed it was time for something new.
"I just think that we need to play a new tune."
