Mike Cardiff, a well known Kāpiti identity, is standing for election to the Kāpiti Coast District Council in October as one of five district-wide Councillors.
A resident of Waikanae for 35 years and for 30 years, manager of the Parks and Recreation Department of Council, he now wants to help in bringing back practical commonsense and deliver better governance to ratepayers.
“There needs to be a ‘change in direction’ which ensures concentration on priority core business activity particularly for a final balanced decision on water supply, with a shift away from expenditure on non urgent projects and preoccupation with political correctness.
“Councillors are servants elected by the community to ensure delivery and management of quality public services in an efficient and practical manner. Councillors are not elected to make binding decisions based on personal preference or political allegiance, nor should they be committing unbudgeted expenditure (outside of the Annual Plan) without proper consultation,” says Mr Cardiff.
“That means that we need better leadership with a higher level of professionalism and accountability from our council. Harmonious decision making and collective responsibility is what rate payers expect. Councillors moving in different directions is not productive, is wasting time, energy and money. This is not what rate payers should be accepting.
“This October there will be an opportunity for the community to vote for a change in the present Council, which should be doing much better.”
Mr Cardiff says he has indepth institutional knowledge of the Kāpiti District, is results orientated and had a wide involvement with community and voluntary organisations. During his career he says he was able to demonstrate a total commitment to improving and developing recreational facilities throughout the district.
“My administration, budgeting and operational experience will make a valuable contribution toward a new Council and change,” says Mr Cardiff
