An invitation to all the Otago Regional Council Dunstan ward candidates was sent by the former mayor of Whanganui and member of Parliament, but only Maggie Lawton took up his offer.
The three other candidates and current councillors Gerry Eckhoff, Graeme Bell and Gary Kelliher ether declined or did not respond to the invitation. Three empty chairs were left next to Dr Lawton and Mr Laws during the meeting in the Lake Hawea Community Centre.
Earlier this month, Mr Eckhoff told the Otago Daily Times he did not see any reason to help Mr Laws by attending one of his meetings.
The invitation was still open for the four other meetings, Mr Laws said.
In the absence of the other three candidates both Mr Laws and Dr Lawton had plenty of time to put their cases to an audience of about 15 people.
Both said their past experience - Dr Lawton as a scientist and consultant and Mr Laws as a politician - meant they would change the way the council operated.
An informal setting meant people felt free to interject with questions and suggestions as candidates spoke.
During a discussion about fencing off rivers to stop cows from walking through, a member of the audience interrupted Mr Laws and told him fences meant less access to rivers for anglers and he did not want more fences, just more council action.
At one point during a discussion on the level of Lake Hawea, it seemed everyone in the room was talking at once.
Mr Laws said it was obvious the current councillors did not represent the community well and he and Dr Lawton would change that.
Both said if elected they would hold community meetings every three or four months so people knew what the council was doing.
Despite the regional council election being decided by the first-past-the-post system, Mr Laws said he also hoped people would vote for Dr Lawton so they could work together to change the council.
