This coming election is one of the most important in Tauranga's history.
The city is at a crossroads between two very different types of candidates - each as dangerous as the other.
On the one hand, a resurfacing of those who would suggest our ratepayers need even greater rate rises inflicted on them for the sake of a few grand designs. On the other, those that lack basic governance skills and the foresight needed to move this city forward.
As a candidate in the Mount-Papamoa ward, I am standing for law and order issues - specifically around violence and anti social behaviour. I am standing as a realist, not a populist in that providing the level of service that ratepayers demand in this rapidly growing city is going to cost.
However, balanced with the reallocation of resources, improvements to the tender process, and clear identification of priority spends we can eliminate waste and curb unnecessary financial burden from current ratepayers and future generations. (abridged)
Steve Morris, Papamoa Beach.