Council Candidates Cite Barriers and Stress as Reasons to Withdraw

Nominations for the upcoming council and community board elections closed on March 15, 2024, revealing that only two wards will be contested, with more available seats than candidates on the Mataura Community Board. Several current council members, including Deputy Mayor Keith Hovell, Glenys Dickson, Richard McPhail, and Bronwyn Reid, have opted not to run again, citing various barriers that deter potential candidates.

The decision of these councillors to step back highlights a growing concern about the current electoral system. Reid, who has served three terms and was deputy mayor during her second term, expressed disappointment over the feedback from individuals she believed would make strong candidates. “I know one or two good [potential] candidates who have said ‘no, the reading would just turn me off,’” she noted.

The councillors also pointed to the increasing stress and ongoing criticism faced by those in office. Reid remarked on the casual disrespect that councillors often encounter, questioning if they have become “easy targets” in public discourse. “Are we the low-hanging fruit?” she asked, reflecting a sentiment echoed by McPhail.

During his tenure, McPhail observed the escalating difficulty of the role, stating that convincing people to sacrifice their time for council work has become increasingly challenging. “I don’t think the system caters for the right candidates sometimes,” he remarked. He also expressed concern about the toll that community pressure took on councillors, particularly during the tumultuous year of 2022. “I was worried about some of the councillors’ stress during [2022]. They didn’t sign up for it, and they probably didn’t deserve it either,” he said.

The council has recently vocalized its frustration with community members who engage in relentless criticism and harassment online. Hovell previously condemned the disruptive rhetoric directed at councillors, emphasizing the need for a more respectful dialogue.

In the upcoming election, four nominations have been received for five positions on the Mataura Community Board. Notably, if Steven “Boko” Dixon, also running for council, wins a council seat, he will need to vacate his position on the board. This situation raises the possibility of a by-election to fill the resulting vacancies.

Candidates with strong connections to the community, such as Gary McIntyre and Donna Bruce, are preparing to run in the upcoming election, potentially bringing a fresh perspective to the council.

As the electoral process unfolds, the challenges faced by current councillors will likely continue to influence the future landscape of local governance. The concerns about stress and barriers to entry for potential candidates signal a need for reflection on how to make local government more accessible and appealing to a broader range of individuals.