Nelson will have a new mayor come October as Rachel Reese announces she will not seek re-election and her deputy, Judene Edgar, confirms she will not seek it either.
However, it will be a contested bid with an ex-councillor throwing his hat in the ring alongside Nelson’s youngest councillor, Rohan O’Neill-Stevens, who announced his intention to run for the mayoralty last month.
Rachel Reese announced on Monday that she will not stand for mayor in the upcoming local body elections. Her deputy mayor, Judene Edgar, says she has also ruled out standing for the top job after one term as deputy mayor, following three terms as a Tasman District councillor.
But ex-Nelson City councillor Kerry Neal says he will, more than 30 years after he last sat on council.
Kerry, speaking exclusively to the Nelson Weekly,says his campaign for the mayoralty will be a “three-pronged attack” on the performance of the current mayor and councillors.
He says this coming election will likely be the “last opportunity to return local government to local people” after what he describes as a council that is close to being controlled by “bureaucrats, political party operatives and paid appointees”.
Kerry says he wants to encourage fair-minded, experienced, practical people to put their names forward for council.
“Get involved and fight to defend the right to have your say on who should run your community.”
Rachel, who has spent three terms as the city’s mayor – a nine-year stint at the head of the Nelson City Council – says her 15 years as an elected member has “raced by” with plenty of variety, excitement, and challenges to be met.
“When I came into the role there was quite a lot to catch up on, there was a lot of infrastructure to be upgraded and we’ve worked really hard to do that.”
She says although the ‘to-do list’ is never finished, it’s the right time for her to end her role as the city’s mayor.
“I feel good about the decision but it’s never an easy one.”
Speaking of her future, Rachel says she plans to take a break until the new year but says rumours of her standing at the next election for the National party are a “definite no”.
“I’ve always laughed when I’ve heard that rumour. I ruled out a long time ago ever serving in the government of the day or Parliament, so the answer is a definite no to that.”
Rachel wants to acknowledge support from family and friends saying the community has “a lot of kindness in it”, even from strangers.
“This is a very kind community, there are people that will drop of flowers randomly for me and I have a wonderful couple who bake a Christmas cake every year and that is just a magical thing to do, there’s some real kindness and thoughtfulness in this community.
“There have been days when things don’t go so well, it’s a tough role and you can’t do it without that support from those close to you.”
She says she will be working up to the “very last day” to get things in the best shape for the next mayor and new council.
“We’ve set up things for the future that provide some real opportunity for the region.”
She says there is still a “big list” of things to get through prior to elections.
“The arts strategy will be coming forward and there’s some work I’ve been looking at in terms of bringing car sharing into Nelson; I’d love to see that get the green light. There’s plenty of work with the marina and Haven precinct so there’s no shortage of things to get done.”
She encourages anyone who thinks they have something to offer the community to consider putting their name forward for the elections on October 8, even if they have no experience.
“I’ve worked with mayors across New Zealand, and I’ve seen mayors come in with no experience in local government and they’ve been exceptional.”
