Mayoralty candidates declare their intentions

At least two contenders - maybe three - have emerged for the Central Otago mayoralty race.

Clyde lawyer Tim Cadogan (51) says it is ‘‘highly likely'' he will stand, challenging incumbent Tony Lepper (59) who is seeking his third term in office.

Asked yesterday about a bid for the mayoralty, Mr Cadogan said ‘‘at this stage it's highly likely I'll be putting my name forward''.

He has served five years on the Vincent Community Board and one term as a Central Lakes Trust trustee.

Mr Cadogan said he was inspired by what his brother Bryan had been able to achieve as Clutha mayor.

‘‘My belief is the role of mayor is as a leader of the community, not just the leader of the council.''

He would offer an alternative to Central Otago voters but had no intention of running a ‘‘negative'' campaign. He considered himself ‘‘a really community-focused person, having been involved in all sorts of community groups at all levels.''

Mr Lepper said he was standing again because he had unfinished business, the new council chief executive Leanne Mash was getting the council ‘‘in the right direction'' by making it more customer-focused, and there were significant infrastructure projects he wanted to see implemented.

‘‘After that, I'd like to be able to hand on the baton to someone else,'' he said.

Alexandra businesswoman Janice Millis said, contrary to the rumours circulating, she was not standing for the mayoralty. Four-term Central Otago District councillor Martin McPherson was yet to give ‘‘serious consideration'' to whether he would run for mayor.

‘‘It's very flattering when people come up to me and tell me I should run.

‘‘If the people decide they want change I'll listen.''

Three-term councillors Clair Higginson and Steve Battrick both said they would step down at the end of this term.

Cr Higginson is chairwoman of the Vincent Community Board and the council's waste and property infrastructure committee.

Cr Battrick serves as chairman of the three waters infrastructure committee and was chairman of the former Alexandra Community Board for three terms.

Both said they did not want to comment further.

Crs McPherson, Stu Duncan, Malcolm Topliss, Barrie Wills, Nigel McKinlay, Stephen Jeffery and Neil Gillespie either said they were running again as councillors or that it was likely.

Cr Shirley Calvert could not be reached yesterday.

Community board members are still being contacted about whether they will stand again.