I have had one term's experience as mayor of New Zealand's 4th largest city, North Shore City, and I believe I have been very successful in that role. Prior to that I had experience as a city councillor (2001-2004) and community board member (2004 - 2007). I am also a North Shore Hearings Commissioner and as such have added knowledge of the regulatory side of council and all that is involved in the resource consent processes.
My previous career dating back to 1977 in international trade adds the business dimension to skills that I would bring to the mayoral role. For nine years I was the Trade Commissioner for Belgium and Luxembourg, and included extensive consular and diplomatic activities as the Honorary Vice Consul of Belgium. I find that the trade and negotiations experience I have had are most helpful in my mayoral discussions, helping to resolve many situations that need a workable outcome.
Too much council business is done behind closed doors in "CONFIDENTIAL" sessions. e.g. the Rosedale Pony Club public reserve was nearly lost to concrete a secondary school, without public consultation on this loss of reserve land.
Plans to build a $12.5 million Takapuna bus causeway from Byron Ave to Barry's Point Road have also been pursued by council behind closed doors, to the horror of local residents.
I believe the council needs to be far more transparent and open with its community.
90% of all council meetings and committee meetings this term have been held in open public and any confidential information has been released to the public agenda as soon as practicable.
A far better solution was found for the Albany Senior High School, which is now opened, leaving the long established Rosedale Pony Club unaffected.
The Takapuna bus causeway idea was cancelled.