New councillor resigns

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 608, 17 October 1995, Page 3

New councillor resigns

Successful Taumarunui ward candidate Mark Ebrey has resigned before he even takes office because he doesn't believe he has enough voter support in the Taumarunui ward for the stance he would take on important issues. Mr Ebrey says that he was elected by default as Weston Kirton, who is also from the Taumarunui ward, was elected as mayor. "If there had been a clear indication from the polling results that I was the person the people wanted to represent them, then I would be taking up the position." Because Mr Ebrey polled so low he said that he cannot confidently take up the position of councillor as his opinions may not reflect those of the people in the Taumarunui ward, who he is meant to be representing. Two secondary reasons, which have been exacerbated by his low polling, concerning why he has resigned are because

he would have been a lone voice and also because he would have to take a significant amount of time out of work to attend council meetings. He said as a councillor he would have been a lone voice on the council, opposing council input into the health issue. "I can foresee the time when the council buys the Taumarunui Hospital through a LATE if we go in the direction that Weston Kirton is mooting. I don't believe this is the role of councils. So I am not going on the council as a matter of principle as the ideology of the council is at odds with what I believe." Mr Ebrey owns a public relations business in Hamilton and he says that he would have lost a considerable amount of revenue from the time he would have had to take out of work to attend council meetings. He says that this was a sacrifice he would have been prepared to make had he received a more positive polling.