I guess I was as sad as everybody else when it was announced that Andrew Turner, Deputy Mayor, had decided to flag away politics. Andrew has been a power of strength as Deputy Mayor and an impressive chairman of committees. His advocacy for Banks Peninsula is second to none and Christchurch City Council will struggle to replace his knowledge and his skills.
Many people around council tables love playing games. The game players seldom achieve anything. They are often recorded in the media because they are loud, and opinionated, and easy to write about by lazy reporters. Often these people give politics a bad name because of their wonky opinions.
The role of a councillor is to be a monitor of the performance of the executive and to strive to get policy through which enhances their community. There was an excellent example of this last week by Pauline Cotter where she managed to finally get money on the plan for the Edgeware Pool. I happen to think this pool is unnecessary, but I admire Pauline for working hard to achieve what her community wants. I hope she succeeds.
Andrew Turner is more than capable of playing the political game but always does it in an honourable manner. He will be missed. Here’s the Press article announcing his retirement: https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/127859711/christchurch-deputy-mayor-makes-shock-decision-to-step-away-from-public-life
The next day the Press reported that former CDHB CEO, David Meates, was giving serious consideration to standing for mayor, having been approached by many people to stand.
That changes the election somewhat and let’s wait to see if David Meates announces whether he is going to stand. He is reported as saying it is under “active consideration”. https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/127869559/former-health-board-boss-considers-entering-christchurchs-mayoral-race
Yes, as a Diamond Harbour resident, I totally agree that Andrew has been doing a great job for Banks Peninsula. I’ve been very appreciative of his work on the Community Board and on the working group for the Head to Head walkway. His contributions have progressed matters usually more than Council staff have wanted, raising pertinent questions and crystalising the mood of the meetings in order to push forward rather than becoming bogged down in procedural inertia. I hope that he continues in or returns to some of the roles which have benefitted the community so much in recent years.