Auckland comedian Ewen Gilmour is performing at Baycourt on Wednesday night to a full house as he ‘roasts' 26 Tauranga City Council candidates.
Organised by BOP 105.4FM, Ewen will ask the candidates questions and has a few challenges up his sleeve for them.
BOPFM managing director Jarra Borman says the station's aim with this event and its election coverage is to encourage improved voter participation.
'BOPFM set out to provide a platform for all the candidates in this local election to connect with residents in the 18-55 demographic,” says Jarra, 'as traditionally younger people have had very little involvement in the local elections.
'We have interviewed almost every candidate over the last month in studio and people can access these interviews at any time at www.bopfm.co.nz
'During this process we have given the candidates a chance to discuss their policies and vision for Tauranga.
'To further engage the public we wanted to culminate the campaign in a fun way and decided a candidate roast would be quite appealing, Ewen Gilmour was the natural choice.
'He is a widely respected comedian who has a unique insight into what it takes to run a city having been a councillor for west Auckland in recent years.
While Jarra expects the event to be a good laugh, there is also a serious side to the hilarity.
'A sense of humour, especially about oneself, is widely considered to be the height of intelligence.
'We want intelligent people running this city. In fact, being self assured enough to laugh at yourself shows that you have a firm grip on reality.”
7 comments
tcc candidates
Posted on 29-09-2010 15:10 | By Glen Clova
I hope the people of Tauranga have a think about who they are voting for and think about the ones for years have been getting in on the protest of the moment vote. When they get in they do nothing,One long time councilor moaned about the first harbour bridge and also Baycourt,
Thanks BOPfm 105.4
Posted on 29-09-2010 15:21 | By Murray.Guy
12 months or so ago a BOPfm employee suggested I share a studio for 10 minutes or so once a week, chat informally about what's happening at City Hall. 'Warts and All at City Hall' became the catch phrase. The request was made to meet a BOPfm policy of adding value to our local community, specifically to try and enhance interest and participation in the affairs of our City by their, largely, not as old as me, listeners. As the electioneering period drew near it was decided to give airtime to as many candidates as possible, free of any charge, to again, add value to local government election processes, and my involvement stopped. At 43-45% voter participation in our local body elections it seems to me 60% are likely disinterested, disenchanted, feel dis-enfranchised - that their opinion, their vote doesn't matter, won't change anything. For this to change their has to be a focus on how as elected members we relate to the community (of all ages), and before we can do that we have to employ processes that will appeal to the various age groupings. Irrespective of your cultural background, economic position, political viewpoint, station in life, there are two actions that unify all, that remove barriers, that makes everybody attractive to the recipient, to the witness - to share a smile and a laugh! Thank you BOPfm in advance. I am led to believe Baycourt auditorium is to be full, I understand this Gilmour chap will have them smiling and laughing - likely at my expense. I can live with that! Thank you! (I think?)
The Questions could be interesting?
Posted on 30-09-2010 15:14 | By Socrates
It will be intersting to see if all the questions by Ewen Gilmour are of a humouress nature or perhaps more serious? They could possibly relate to the moral character of our candidates.It appears that there should be open disclosure of any indiscretions such as we have recently seen in national politics with the David Garret fiasco.Perhaps issues like domestic violence should be brought out in the open so we are fully informed of the moral character of our candidates? A warts and all discloseur made be of great interest to the community and give greater transperancy to the process.We certainly would not want the future mayor of Tauranga to have any skelletons in the closet would we?
Full Disclosure
Posted on 30-09-2010 16:06 | By The Sage
I would be very interested in full disclosure on all the candidates pasts, being made public. Issues like domestic violence, no matter how long ago, should be made public. The previous wives/partners of candidates could reveal the truth behind what has happened. Some of these guys preaching the moral high road and expounding family values should be ashamed of themselves.
DISCLOSURE INDEED !
Posted on 02-10-2010 10:35 | By The Master
If there was "disclosure" as intended by the Local Government & Meeting Official Information Act then I think many potential candidates, Councillors and a number of "TOWN" Hall staff would have been run out of "TOWN" already. The truth is that the Official Information Act is being used as a road block and not as a means to include and have well informed ratepayers. The only reason for that is that there must be a good reason "NOT" to show and tell the truth ...
KNOW THE CANDIDATES
Posted on 02-10-2010 10:40 | By The Master
Perhaps one should think carefully about all the trite that is written, mostly by candidates themselves and reflect on the NZ Navy - Devonport CV shambles reported recently where the senior technicaol person was found to have fudged the CV five years ago ? A CV when read is not about what it says, it is about what it does not say, of course that takes a while to surface but it is clear that the track record of the last three years places serious questions on thiose calling the shots at 'TOWN” Hall. Or should it now be 'VACANT” Hall?
Pick the Lazy ones
Posted on 05-10-2010 14:21 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
I say vote for the REAL LAZY ONES They are the ones less likely to interfere in our lives Its the busy ones we have to worry about - the ones that want to tell everybody what to do, and what their money should be spent on.
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