Ashburton Deputy Mayor Eyes Up Sheriff Role

Saturday, 22 March 2025, 8:05 pm
Article: Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

20 March

After two terms as Ashburton's deputy mayor, Liz McMillan says she is ready to take the top job.

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown announced on Wednesday, March 19, that he would not seek a third term, and the next day, McMillan announced her hopes of being his replacement.

“I’m ready to step up,” she said.

McMillan added she wanted to get her announcement out of the way early rather than it be a distraction as "there is plenty of work to get on with in the next six months”.

Knowing that Brown was tossing up his future, McMillan said she had also pondered what her next move would be.

“Neil was considering his options and we had the conversation, so he knew where I was at.

“I just had to wait for him to make his decision, like everyone else.

“I knew I wouldn’t stand against him, he is a great mayor, but if he was stepping down, I knew I would give it a go.’

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

She was elected as the highest polling candidate in the Western Ward, one of several new councillors in 2016 under first-term mayor Donna Favel - the first female mayor of the district.

In McMillan’s second term, again elected as the highest polling Western Ward candidate, the first-term mayor Brown made her the deputy.

It came as a surprise, McMillan said.

“But I was up for it and feel I have put my heart and soul into being a deputy.”

In 2022, after being re-elected to a third term as the top Western Ward candidate, Brown again had McMillan as his deputy.

And not just a deputy by name, McMillan said she has been working closely alongside Brown across the two terms.

“I feel like I have had my training wheels.”

McMillan said that's why she is confident to run for Mayor, and will also stand in the Western Ward as she's "not ready to give up local government yet”.

“I feel I’ve got the experience, and we have some big projects coming that need good leadership.

“You need good leadership around the table so that good decisions are made for the whole community.

“You are only one vote around the table and the mayor doesn’t always get their way.

“The mayor’s job is guiding the team, not dictating. Something Neil has done a great job at that.”

Candidate nominations for Ashburton District Council open on July 4 and close on August 1.

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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