Well-known Southlander Paddy O’Brien has confirmed that he will be putting his name up for election to the Invercargill City Council by-election, which will take place in February 2021.
The former international rugby referee and current World Rugby High Performance Sevens Referee Manager has put his name forward after former deputy mayor and councillor Toni Biddle resigned earlier this month, citing difficulties working alongside members of the council.
Serving the community was something O’Brien had much experience in, and he felt he could bring skills to the council table that would be valuable along with a keen ear for listening to the Invercargill community. O’Brien is currently a member of the Invercargill Licensing Trust and Calvary Hospital boards.
“I see standing in the by-election as an opportunity to observe and learn the mechanics of how Council works before considering any direction I want to take at the next local body elections in 2023.”
Having watched issues at the council play out as part of public discourse had been a recurring and concerning theme of the council’s perception and performance and O’Brien, like many Invercargill residents, was keen to see its performance lifted.
“I am a great believer that if you are unhappy with a situation then you should act to find a solution rather than sitting on the outside and talking about a problem,” he said.
“I do think these issues can be resolved; it’s going to take some hard work, but the council can settle its differences to work together in unison for the betterment of Invercargill and its ratepayers.”
O’Brien has spent his entire working life in conflict situations. He was a police officer and detective for 17 years before embarking on an international rugby career, becoming one of the world’s first professional international rugby referees. After mediating rugby teams on the field for 12 years, he became a World Rugby Referee Manager, firstly for the 15s, and latterly in 7s since 2005.
“I want to be involved with people who have a can do attitude not give reasons why they can’t do something. Re-opening the museum will be among my top priorities if Invercargill ratepayers decide I’m the right person for the job, along with ensuring the CBD redevelopment is completed so we have an inner city we can all be proud of.”
He felt it was not acceptable that an entire generation could miss out on the unique cultural experience the museum offered if the situation wasn’t given due attention.
“It is not good enough that two and a half years after the museum closed that it remains in its current unused state”
“I’m heartened to see He Waka Tuia open in the interim, but the council still needs to be looking ahead to plan for this cultural asset to maintained and reopened.”
If he were elected, O’Brien would head into the term with an open mind.
“Like most of the ratepayers I am sick and tired of the he said-she said arguments that unfortunately have been carried out in the public domain – but I want to make up my own mind regarding those issues that have been reported and observe for myself how the council operates behind closed doors,” he said.
“I am a passionate Southlander who wants our city to progress, not be a city which, quite frankly, is at risk of being the laughing stock of the rest of the country, if the Council continue to air their dirty laundry in public.”