Horowhenua StarHorowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden will stand for office again at the local government elections in October.
The decision to announce his candidacy six months out from the election he says is to give certainty of his intentions: “I want to signal to the community that I’m not umming or ahhing.”
He says he wants to continue to serve the district and be part of a positive direction for the future, having been mayor for the last two terms.
“If the community is willing, I’m happy to continue that service,” he says.
Before making the decision he checked in with his family – and himself – that he could do the job justice. The answer is yes.
“You can’t do the job half-hearted in any way. It’s a 24/7 job. I am committed and energised to continue in the role and continue to offer as much as I have in the last five and a half years.
“I’m also enthusiastic and energised by what is going on in the district. We are heading in a good direction for the future and I want to add value and contribute to that.
“Also, the experience that I have had and knowing the challenges that are ahead in a local government and community sense, it’s vital that there is continuity. Nobody is indispensable, but I know that my knowledge and experience can provide continuity and balance.
“I’m a great believer that if you can, you should.
“Don’t get me wrong, This is contestable. This is a democracy. But I’m proud of where we have come as a district in the last six years and proud of the change that we have seen.”
He says there’s been a change in how Horowhenua is perceived nationally and within, and “I’m proud to be a part of that and want to see that positive and constructive decision-making continue”.
“It is satisfying and gratifying to have a voice in the conversation that shapes the future of the district and I find that invigorating. I’m very much cognisant of the role council has in people’s lives.
“We’re not making decisions just for today, we are making decisions for the future and we want a district that our children and their children can be proud of, and there are a heckava lot of people that contribute to that.
“I very much hold to the oath of making decisions in the best interests of the district.”
He says he is grateful for the support he has from his family, least of all wife Sharon.
“She has had to make sacrifices, but we are very much a team. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t have her support.”
Bernie scoffed at suggestions he could be doing other things with his time.
“I’m not a very good gardener.”
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