Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin and city councillor Dave Cull have squared off for the mayoralty, both yesterday announcing their intentions to stand for the city's top job.
Mr Chin said he was standing on his record, including his role in the decision to proceed with the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Cr Cull made it clear he wanted his Greater Dunedin political grouping of three councillors to expand to the point it held the balance of power on the council, either alone or with the help of like-minded independents.
Both men finally responded to weeks of queries from the Otago Daily Times on their intentions; the timing of both announcements in one day apparently a coincidence.
Mr Chin said of his years on the council: "I've gained an amount of knowledge and experience, and would like to have another go."
He said he saw the role of mayor as "the ultimate form of service".
Asked what he was most proud of, he mentioned his part in the city's water upgrade, the development of the Wall Street mall, and the development of the sister-city relationship with Shanghai.
Chairing the trust that developed the Chinese garden "ranks right up there".
Leading the council through decisions that resulted in the building of the stadium was another highlight.
On criticism of the city's projected rates rises - close to 50% in the next 10 years - he said the council's decisions were transparent through the annual plan process, and had been approved by majority votes.
Every year, the projected increase had been revised: "I see no reason that won't continue."
Cr Cull said Greater Dunedin needed to "achieve the balance of power in order to get Dunedin back on track, rein in inappropriate spending and deliver intelligent, responsible leadership to our community".
He said the city had been "bereft" of quality decision-making.
Greater Dunedin would be confirming a "very diverse group" in the next week.
He said the group did not have a rigid agenda or slate of policies.
"It's more that we believe in better thinking, better analysis, and better responsibility to make better decisions."
The group would develop principles and policies that would be made public before the election.
"These include greatly reducing the rates burden, an emphasis on core services, innovatively addressing Dunedin's economic decline and genuinely facing the challenges of climate change, sea-level rise and energy depletion and rising costs."
Cr Cull said he planned to take "a hard look at expenditure" to see what could be reduced without a reduction in services.
Former Labour MP and city councillor David Benson-Pope said, "Definitely not," when asked if he planned to stand for either the council or the mayoralty, as did Labour MP Pete Hodgson, who this month announced he would be standing down from national politics.
Deputy mayor Syd Brown said he would announce his plans in the next couple of weeks; Cr Richard Walls was also not ready to state his intentions.
Former councillor, and Carisbrook Stadium Trust chairman, Malcolm Farry, has said he has no plans for a return to local government, and former Stop the Stadium president Bev Butler yesterday said she "probably will not be standing".
Former councillor Lee Vandervis yesterday said he was unable to comment on his intentions, though he has previously indicated he would consider standing.
Nominations for the October 9 election open on July 23.
