Lambton Ward Candidate speaks about Councillor salary increases

Councillors managing budgets that they have no concept of, over spending and poor planning leading to nobody having any idea ? However as soon as the Remuneration Authourity yells "Pay Rise" they all seem to know how that works and what that is about !

At what point does this monstrosity stop ? Lets get real here, we vote in a bunch of people who are essentially "Nobodies" so to speak, and we see them once every election year maybe, (If we are lucky and looking out for them in particular). Let's get real I'm standing for the Lambton Ward, and I can walk down Cuba St, and ask ten people to name two of the three City Councillors and if I am lucky then one person might guess it right. You build a profile with people when you actually reach out to the community and work with them, it does not just happen over night.

I think the fact that this new pay rise will benefit our four lowest paid city councillors to bring their income closer to the portfolio leaders is a complete joke (and even then how does that work ? Because they are getting an increase to) . The Mayor (Wether you like her or not) does a much more gruelling job than any of these councillors and that position is not receiving and increase so why are all these other slackers.

To these bottom four councillors they probably have a slimy grin across their face when in reality they get paid less because they do less, they do not lead a portfolio or chair a board, so why should they be getting as much ? We do not give List Members of Parliament a pay increase to bring their income close together with say a Ministers salary so why are we doing it with these guys ?

As a candidate for the Lambton Ward, I would be saying no to a pay rise, or putting that extra money into the wards residential association, because it is rude to accept it. They know as well as you and I know it is not deserved. I am forever more motivated to stand for Wellington City Council this year when I see Councillors that cannot manage a budget or plan or comprehend a project that cost more than expected however the word pay rise is understood and comprehended across the board.

When Councillors do not know about things like a WellyWood sign going up and claiming "I first saw about it in the Dominion Post" either makes them really slow or really stupid.

I encourage anybody that wants to have a go as a Councillor to put their hand up, because quite honestly this council needs a fair few weeds pulled out of it. How do we expect people to get excited about voting when the candidates are not exciting and that is why voters get bored because the candidates are boring.

I look forward to being elected this year ! Transparency and Integrity is what I will walk in with, (It is unfortunate that another young councillor ruined the chance of promoting a youth image by doing absolutely nothing), I encourage everybody this year when picking your Mayor, think about it and when picking your councillors have a good think about it and ask yourself 1 - how long have they been in council ? 2 - What have they done ? and 3 - is there someone better I can pick this time for the job ?

Lets clean the council up and get some action happening in this city !

ENDS

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