VillagePRESS ‘picks winners’ and calls for
 ‘Voter Education’ priority

VillagePRESS will email predicted successful candidates today, Friday, to call on them to instigate and support a public education program to create real public awareness of the role councils interact with each other and Central govt, and what the actual roles and limitations are for elected members.

It appears quite widespread that elected councillors and board members are blamed for outcomes quite beyond their influence or control.  And if an outcome is not what is wanted then the agro resulting is aimed at the individual considered responsible.  The level of activity created by agro seems to far outweigh, even eliminate, successful outcomes. Negative statements also seem to spread widely on the grapevine to include attitudes by those who have had no direct knowledge of the action or individual concerned.

Without accurate knowledge of the systems of localised govt, ‘hidden agendas’ and blatant lies gain ground and are extremely dangerous for society as a whole. 

Even in some Candidates themselves there are displays of ignorance, anger, cunning, lies, and manipulations of the so-called truth… what chance the busy and unaware voter?  What chance ‘Democracy’?

We need a program of political education for Voters, simple but not infantile, with incentives to involve those who don’t otherwise see why it is important anyway.  Maybe something like the “Scratch and Win” Road Code program – with Rate Rebates as prizes maybe?  There is already regular mail to all Ratepayers including a vehicle for written advice. 

 Wouldn’t work? – “Keep doing what you do, keep getting what you get”…..

With just Friday and Sat morning to go* only 37% of eligible Voters have had their decisions received, Returning officer, Paul Garbett advised VillagePRESS.  A progress report would be available around 2pm Sat with final results by 5pm – though Special Votes might not have been processed at that time. That these could create an upset might be mathematically possible but unlikely, he said.

Results would be published immediately available on Rodney Website**.

For the ‘isolated’ editor – who could not, to ensure ‘fair play’, use members of his team as one is a Candidate – this has been an interesting exercise.  The phone has been very busy on top of discussions in the district; Candidates have been contacted and answers to questions received from half of them. From all of this, some things should be predictable. 

The poor returns to date would not be expected.  Prediction one: There will be a last minute ‘flush’ of ‘late decisions’ by mail Fri and Sat. (But, of course, our conversations are with ‘the converted’.)

 Who will get in? Prediction Two: Results will include:

Rodney District Council:  Mayor John Law, Councillors include: Elizabeth Foster, John Ross, Hans Grueber, Bill Smith and (our) Audrey Jones.

Auckland Regional Council:  Christine Rose

Waitemata Health Board: Ross Jensen

 -- PER Managing Editor

* You can deliver your voting papers to Council at Orewa, Helensville and Warkworth 12 midday, between 9 am and Sat – too late now to post them.

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