Ian Pottinger Running For Mayor

Councillor Ian Pottinger has announced today his candidacy for the Mayoral role in this year’s local body elections.

Having completed four terms as a councillor, including the last term as chair of the Infrastructure Committee, Ian said he now wants to take on the new responsibility.

He believes the mayoral role requires the combination of experience, knowledge and determination and these attributes he will bring to the position.

The Local Government Act clearly states that the role of a Mayor is to lead council’s strategic plans, budgets and policies.

“These are far from being bureaucratic red tape processes and are the transparent functions that council uses to set expenditure on infrastructure renewals, new projects and the levels of service delivered. If the hard work is not put in here then the council is only guessing its future.”

Pottinger further says that for Invercargill to make its rates more affordable it needs to grow its population, rather than retrench the levels of service it provides.

“The city’s infrastructure was designed to cater for a population far exceeding 60,000 and the maths are simple that more people will spread the costs.”

He then adds that a key role of council is to allow businesses to thrive, which will mean more jobs and more people.

Things need to happen and as Mayor, Pottinger will be seeking solutions for how they can, not excuses for why they can’t.

This makes it four contenders for the 2022 mayoral fight including Incumbent Sir Tim Shadbolt, Southland District mayor Gary Tong, and Bluff Community Board member Noel Peterson so far, with more expected to put their hat in the ring.