Support For Mayor Clark Through Code of Conduct Process
Media personality and Invercargill City councillor Darren Ludlow has rubbished the show that interviewed Mayor Nobby Clark which led to his code of conduct.
Cr Ludlow wasn’t at the June meeting where the council discussed his first code of conduct complaint, but he had plenty to say at council today.
“As a public speaker for 40 years and in the media, this was irresponsible and they achieved what they wanted. People perceive it as news but it’s a comedy show focusing on comedic discomfort.”
Cr Ludlow continued that The New Zealand Today programme was not news and yet the issue with Mayor Clark speaking on the show became news, “and it was really unhelpful Guy Williams – don’t come back.”
Warning councillors that trying to ask the Mayor to resign was just giving him a “wet bus ticket, and they should know what the response would be.
Both Cr Ludlow and Cr Grant Dermody agreed they would like to see more than just a written apology from Mayor Clark for his lapse of judgement, including something more personal to the public, and to better reflect the emotion behind it. Related: Mayor Back From Month Long Break
Cr Ian Pottinger, who along with Cr Ria Bond instigated the code of conduct, was tearful as he gave council his statement – saying the process had come at a cost.
He said they had both been “villainised” for wasting council’s time and money, “and it has been a lonely place for us both personally, as we have fulfilled our roles as responsible councillors to the public.”
Cr Pottinger said further demands had also been put on him by other councillors, and said he wasn’t going to put up with it.
The Mayor was absent for the meeting and that was questioned by Cr Pottinger, who asked why he wasn’t there to speak to the situation.
A statement read by Cr deputy Mayor Tom Campbell from the Mayor said he accepted the interview with Guy Williams was not good, and his behaviour had put the council into disrepute.
“I’m not perfect and accept that this type of interview must not happen again.”
Council agreed there was material breach, will ask Mayor Clark to apologise publicly at the next meeting, and also send him a letter of censure signed by Cr Campbell and other councillors.