Mark Benton has announced his candidacy for a District-wide seat on the Kāpiti Council.
Mr Benton says, along with his wife and son, he has been a Kāpiti Coast resident for over 21 years, living in Paraparaumu.
“Previously I was General Manager of MediaWorks in Kāpiti, and for just over three years I’ve been the Sales Manager of Harcourts Waikanae and Ōtaki.
“As I live and work throughout the Kāpiti Coast, I feel I have a reasonable understanding of the needs and wants of the different townships throughout Kāpiti.”
Mr Benton says the unfortunate thing for Kāpiti is that we’re funded basically by rates alone.
“When council want to spend, it is the ratepayers that are fully footing the bill. Looking at the proposed rate increases for the next 3-6 years, we the rate payers, are looking at over 7% increases each year.”
He says, while admitting there are a lot of projects that are underway and are necessary, there is also a number that aren’t.
“My pledge if elected, is to try and control council spending and keep rate rises to the minimum. Spending on necessities rather than whims. It is no fun paying close to $100 a week in rates.
“In a perfect world there are a number of projects that the citizens of Kāpiti would like completed sooner rather than later, but elected members are responsible for all the residents of Kāpiti and sometimes, while harder to do, saying No, is the right thing to do.
“I’m experienced in governance and I’m currently a member of a number of sporting clubs and President of the Paraparaumu Beach Bowling Club. In the past I’ve been on the committee of a number sporting and social clubs.”
Mr Benton says doing the best for the Kāpiti Coast community as a whole, is his promise if elected.
