Mayoral profile: Bruce Cawley

Mayoral elections in Otago's "heartland" this year have attracted 14 candidates. The Otago Daily Times today continues its series profiling those candidates, with Oamaru reporter David Bruce putting the questions to Bruce Cawley ...

Bruce Cawley

Age: 56 years.

Occupation: Secondhand dealer-shop assistant-farm worker.

Marital status: Married to Glenys, five children - "One of my own, Glenys has two of her own and we have two of our own."

Council experience: "Zip, apart from working with Nelson City Council about 20 years ago."

Describe yourself in three words: "I'm a doer."

Three times Bruce Cawley has stood for the Waitaki mayoralty, and he is just as enthusiastic about his fourth attempt in October's local body elections.

Each time, he says, he has increased his vote.

"I think my biggest mistake last time was not standing for both positions."

For the first time, he is also seeking election as a councillor for the Oamaru ward on the Waitaki District Council.

Is that not a double-edged sword, voters deciding to vote for you as councillor rather than mayor?

You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

People that know me, know what I'm like.

I'm up front, call a spade a spade and, hey, I'm the first one to admit if I've done something wrong.

I put my hand up - that's basically what I'm like.

You have not been discouraged standing for mayor after the past three elections?

No.

Simply because this district has treated me well and I'm determined to give something back to the people.

Why would you make a good mayor?

I'm hands-on.

I don't care if I have to get out with a shovel and broom and sweep the gutters.

I don't care if I have to travel anywhere in the district to meet people, to discuss things with them and come to some sort of solution.

For example?

I'm annoyed over the past 10 years our northbound state highway has been closed due to flooding.

You know, instead of getting engineering consultants in, why not look at why it's flooding and get on and get the job done.

It'll only take one massive ditch from the railway line out to the sea.

Going through farmland, we'll negotiate with farmers for, maybe, a rate reduction or something, to allow the channel to go through.

A couple of culverts under the railway across to State Highway 1 - that's your problem solved.

It's quite simple when you look at it.

Water has to run downhill.

You can't make it run uphill.

If elected, what would be your main priorities over the next three years?

If elected, I would like to stop (the council's) Forrester Heights going ahead and develop the land (it owns) behind the (old Oamaru) hospital.

And I would like to try and get some of our big debt out of the way.

I'm sympathetic to (redevelopment of) the Forrester Gallery, but I don't believe we need to spend $5 million.

From $2 million you should be able to get plenty of storage and a lift put in, without all the fancy fandangos, the extra add-ons.

What financial position is the council in?

Financially? It's in a bad position, Rates are going up far too high, farmers are hurting because of the high rates they pay and we need to look at the council going back to its four main core services, rather than getting into things that could be done in the private sector.

For example, if the council sold the block of land behind the hospital to a developer, that's money the council's got it can use for services, rather than the council going ahead and putting the cost of infrastructure in and then trying to sell the sections.

What are those four core services?

Roading, water, sewerage and rubbish.

I've done ringing around and we are the only council that doesn't provide a rubbish collection (that is left to private contractors).

I feel sorry for those who don't have a car and can't take their rubbish to the resource recovery park.

Some people can't afford to pay contractors.

It's a case of don't we eat tonight and take our rubbish, or eat tonight and throw our rubbish down the back of the section.

Then, hopefully, when they sell out or go, someone will clean the mess up.

My biggest gripe is council cut the rubbish collection.

They have pallets with cartons of rubbish bags all printed with council logos sitting in a warehouse.

There has to be a 100,000 or more.

They're just going to sit there, because the council is no longer in there, doing their business.

Do you think you will make a good mayor without council experience?

Personally, I think I will, because I'm hands-on.

I think outside the square and I won't waste council money getting consultants in for every bit of nit-picking thing someone's not prepared to make a decision on, put their hands up when it goes wrong.

I'm quite happy to put my hand up.

What are your campaign plans

?I've got probably the biggest campaign out - $500 maximum.

The car's sign-written both sides and I'm in The Telegraph (a local giveaway paper) at least for five weeks.

I'll be at all campaign meetings.

I'll accept all invitations.

I don't believe in having big billboards at great expense.

I don't believe in wasting money - and that's exactly how I'll be on council.

The postal voting period is September 17 to October 9 (closing, noon).

Tomorrow: Ralph Burrell.