LDR reporter Jonathan Leask takes a look at who is in the running to be on the next Ashburton District Council.

MAYORALTY

It’s officially a four-way race for the Ashburton mayoralty with councillor Rob Mackle’s nomination.

Mayor Neil Brown announced in March that his second term would be his last on the council.

First-term councillor Mackle joins deputy mayor Liz McMillan, three-term councillor Russell Ellis and newcomer Jeff Ryan in the mayoral contest.

Mackle, the older brother of Kaikōura mayor Craig Mackle, is only standing for the mayoralty and not seeking re-election in the Western Ward.

READ MORE: Mackle to run for Mayor

He won his seat at council in a by-election in the Western Ward in May 2023 following the sudden death of Rodger Letham in December 2022.

The other three candidates are standing in wards - McMillan in the West, Ellis and Ryan in Ashburton.

McMillan is in her third term on the council, serving as Browns’ deputy in both his terms as mayor.

READ MORE: Deputy shoots for sheriff role

Ellis is in his third term, having been re-elected to the council in 2022.

He infamously missed out on standing in the 2019 election after a technicality in his nomination form.

He had lodged his nomination more than 24 hours before the closing time, but due to the redrawn electoral boundaries that year, one of his nominators was no longer in the correct ward.

That made his nomination invalid when it was checked once nominations had closed, and the error could not be retrospectively corrected.

Ryan is a newcomer to council politics and has big project ideas, including a new bypass around Ashburton and a punting canal to Lake Hood.

READ MORE: Ashburton mayoral race heats up

ASHBURTON WARD

Dolf van Amersfoort, Leonard Cojocaru, Julie Moffett* and Carolyn Cameron are the latest candidates to come forward to chase one of the five seats in the Ashburton Ward.

They join newcomers Stephanie Poole and Jeff Ryan, while councillors Tony Todd and Phill Hooper are seeking a second term, and Russell Ellis a fourth.

Three-term councillor Leen Braam announced this term, his third, would be his last.

Notably, none of the seven candidates who unsuccessfully ran in the Ashburton Ward in 2022 are standing again.

Dolf van Amersfoort unsuccessfully stood in the general election and is now vying for a seat at Ashburton's council table, standing in the Ashburton Ward.

Van Amersfoort previously stood in the 2023 general election in the Rangitata electorate for the now-disbanded New Nation Party, where he received 92 of the 40,000 votes.

The party started as a lobby group “to bring the National party back to the straight and narrow”, he said.

It campaigned against vaccine mandates, three waters reforms and New Zealand’s involvement in the United Nations.

The party only received 0.5% of the party vote and was deregistered in January.Van Amersfoort is now chasing a seat on the council.“

There are areas where improvement can be made," he said.

“If you don’t agree, then you need to do something about it.”

He doesn’t agree with rate hikes and “so many little things that people complain about”.

“I need to get on the inside and see how things work and how I can influence it.”

Van Amersfoort said he has lots of ideas, but they “fade into insignificance" if you are unsure how to implement them.

That can only be done with a seat at the council table, he added.

He has lived in Ashburton for 17 years and is a vehicle inspector, with “a vast history in business”, including as a regional manager for Toyota.

Local business owner Leonard Cojocaru believes the next council needs fresh ideas from new people.

And he thinks he could be one of them.

The council needs people with a vision and fresh ideas, he said.

The Romanian immigrated to Ashburton with his wife and three children in 2005.

He has run Sparkle Jewellery in Ashburton’s CBD for the last eight years.

Cojocaru admits to being a novice but is aware of the issues facing the council.

He said he has some new ideas, but wasn’t going to “pretend I am going to change everything”.

A focus for him is finding ways to improve the youth exodus from the region, which has a rapidly ageing population.

Julie Moffett, a journalist at the Ashburton Guardian, said she has a good understanding of the district, of its strengths, and a handle on the things that concern people.“

My work as a journalist has seen me connect with all sorts of people in the district, from the homeless to visiting MPs, and means I can look at issues dispassionately and from multiple perspectives, before coming to any conclusions.”

She has concerns about the polarisation in society, with a ‘them and us’ type attitude in some quarters."

I am open to listening to others and a big believer in collaboration."

She said her journalism background, including working in commercial radio and at RNZ, means she can “absorb information and cut to the core messages and ask the right questions”.

Originally from Christchurch before spending 20 years in Auckland, Moffett moved to the district in 2019.

“As someone who's a recent arrival, I can see things with reasonably fresh eyes.”

DISCLAIMER: Julie Moffett is also a reporter at the Ashburton Guardian. She took no part in writing or editing this story.

Councillor Carolyn Cameron has decided to seek a third term.

Cameron, who owns the Allenton Pharmacy, had been weighing up her decision , having previously said she had to make sure she could fully commit to another three years.

“Things have lined up and I am able to commit to seeking another term.

“I feel there is still scope for my input and things I want to achieve,” she said.

Cameron joins eight other candidates in seeking the five seats in the Ashburton Ward.

Steph Poole is a mother of three who wants to “bring a fresh perspective” to the council table.

The 31-year-old believes there needs to be a range of voices around the table to represent the community, and she brings the "young family voice”.

READ MORE: Poole promising “voice for young families”

Her background is in the health, wellbeing, and social sector.

First-term councillor Tony Todd was the first nomination received.

Phill Hooper is also seeking a second term.

READ MORE: Hooper seeks second term

He said he feels like he is only just getting started and has a “much firmer grasp on local body politics and the democratic process”.

Eastern Ward

A third nomination meant there was to be an election in the Eastern Ward.

Hakatere Huts resident Gary Clancy was set to run against incumbent first-term councillor Richard Wilson and retired farmer Phill Everest, seeking to fill the two vacancies in the Eastern Ward.

Clancy withdrew his nomination on Friday for "personal reasons".

Wilson, the son of former long-serving councillor Stu Wilson, will stand for a second term and will be “be happy to work with whoever the people elect as mayor to keep working for the best interests of the community”.

READ MORE: Lovett bows out, Wilson leans in

Everest retired from farming and has decided to stand for council because of his “passion for our community”.

READ MORE: Trading cows for council

Western Ward

Third term councillor and deputy mayor Liz McMillan is up against newcomers Deborah Gilkison and Jeanette Maxwell in the Western Ward.

McMillan had three terms on the Methven Community Board, with two as the chairperson, before deciding to make a run at the council.

She has successfully been elected as the top polling candidate in the Western Ward in all three elections.

Gilkison owns the Panther Rock in Mayfield and has a background in economic development. Her mother, Kim, was a two-term councillor in New Plymouth.

READ MORE: Gilkison launches council bid

Maxwell and her husband Alister run a 300ha sheep and beef property at the foot of Mt Hutt and she has been involved in Federated Farmers since 2005, rising to be the first female Meat and Fibre chairperson and national board member.

READ MORE: Maxwell seeks council seat

Methven Community Board

There are five nominations for the Methven Community Baord, and five vacancies.

Richie Owen, Megan Fitzgerald, and Robin Jenkinson are seeking re-election while Simon Wareing and Faye Barrand are new candidates.

Current chairperson Kelvin Holmes, a former district councillor, has indicated he is stepping away from politics.

Ashburton Election Candidates

Mayor

Russell Ellis

Liz McMillan

Jeff Ryan

Rob Mackle

Eastern Ward

Phill Everest

Richard Wilson

Gary Clancy (NOW WITHDRAWN)

Western Ward

Deborah Gilkison

Liz McMillan

Jeanette Maxwell

Ashburton Ward

Russell Ellis

Phill Hooper

Steph Poole

Tony Todd

Jeff Ryan

Leonard Cojocaru

Dolf van Amersfoort

Julie Moffett

Carolyn Cameron

Methven Community Board

Simon Wareing

Robin Jenkinson

Megan Fitzgerald

Richie Owen

Faye Barrand

Braided Rivers Community Trust

Gerard Rushton

Tim Silva

Maddy Brown

Mark Douglas

Christina Clarke

James Warren

Natasha Wilson

Chantelle Quinn

Kerry Clough

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By Jonathan Leask