The Local Government Act States: 'The purpose of Local Government is to enable democratic local decision making and action by communities. It is the law, pure and simple. As a councillor you are bound by this Law and must obey it, regardless of what council staff or others say”. Also, Council Standing Orders state your first duty and loyalty is to the citizens of our community, not fellow councillors, not the mayor, not council staff but your community! Previous councils have ignored the law of decision making by citizens and first duty to community. This has resulted in you being elected to a minority council and questions the very validity of your position. When Mr Terry Molloy gets only 3.6 per cent of eligible votes and the Mayor only 10 per cent, the question of validity has to be asked!

However, if councillors remember that we are 90,563 eligible voters strong, and they together are 11 average people, they may consider to be humble. They have to obey the law as stated, so we may achieve a democratic council for the very first time in our history.

K Evans, Tauranga City.