MEDIA RELEASE 8TH Aug 2007

NoMoreRates founder/organiser to run for election in North Shore City.

Aims to continue rates reform battle from within local government tent.

David Thornton, founder/organiser of the NoMoreRates campaign today announced that he will stand for election to the North Shore City Council as a councillor for the Harbour Ward.

David Thornton is a prominent advocate for reform of the council rating system, having been a leader of the Ratepayers Rebellion campaign against ARC rates in 2003/5 and then the NoMoreRates campaign which will continue as long as it takes to achieve reform.

In reaching his decision David Thornton made it clear hat he would not contest the mayoralty despite the urging of many supporters.

“While media coverage largely centres on the mayoral race the fact is that whoever becomes mayor will still be just one vote on the council” David Thornton said today.

“With rating issues and council spending being the hot topics of this election it is vital that voters elect councillors who are committed to reforming council funding and to applying rigid controls on council expenditure.

“No mayor alone can achieve this. Whoever is elected will need to have a council with the energy and determination to make hard decisions.

“I see it as my role, when elected, to take a leading part among like-minded councillors to provide value for money to our residents, and to work with other councils on rating reform.

“Having fought the rates battle at a regional and then national basis as a lobbyist my next step must be to continue the battle from inside the local government tent.

“I know that several NoMoreRates supporters, both in the Auckland region and around the country, are also considering running for office and their election would provide a firm basis to achieve reform of the rating system”

ENDS

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