Mark Thomas To Stand For Mayor Of Auckland

Second term Auckland Council member and business owner Mark Thomas will stand for Mayor of Auckland at next year’s council elections.

“Five years since amalgamation Aucklanders have not seen enough progress on the issues that matter most. Auckland is becoming more unaffordable, traffic congestion is getting worse and the region’s growth plans have divided communities.”

Thomas said Auckland needs a new leader who can head a rewrite of the Auckland Plan to better focus it on our top priorities, who can resolve the debate around transport funding, better deliver key local transport priorities and provide housing and growth plans more Aucklanders support.”

“Auckland’s opportunities are great but a new leader is needed to build stronger engagement with Aucklanders and get more of our top concerns sorted. My five years as part of Auckland council, together with my extensive business and community leadership background mean I can hit the ground running as the new Mayor next year.

Thomas said he hadn’t planned to run for Mayor, but as he travelled around the region over the last year he had received a lot of positive feedback about his approach and ideas.

Although he had yet to ask for endorsements, he was encouraged by the messages he had received from council colleagues.

Orakei Councillor Cameron Brewer said “I am pleased Mark Thomas is putting his hand up for Mayor. He understands the big issues Auckland faces and promises to be a strong mayoral candidate. Mark’s background in business, in the community and on council means he has a very well rounded set of skills to bring to the mayoral policy debates and contest.”

Waitakere Councillor Linda Cooper said: “It is good Mark will stand for Mayor. Not only does he know what some of the key issues are within Auckland, he has some ideas to solve them.

"I have seen Mark get out and about across the Auckland region and he’s got a good take on some of the important regional concerns that we need new Mayoral leadership on.”

Franklin Councillor Bill Cashmore said “I have worked with Mark on a variety of projects and issues requiring solutions over the past five years. Mark has consistently presented a sound knowledge and understanding of the region and has listened to the views of others in the interest of a rounded solution delivery.”

Mark said a number of local board leaders were also encouraging him. Current Upper Harbour Local Board Chair and Hibiscus and Bays member Lisa Whyte said “Mark has been a very effective local representative. We saw this with the significant increase in his vote at the last election.”

The former North Shore City Councillor said: "I have also seen him get across our part of Auckland this year and he understands some of the local and regional matters that new leadership is needed to answer. I wish him well with his campaign.”

Manurewa Local Board Chair Angela Dalton said: “I’ve worked with Mark on council for nearly five years and he is hard working and capable representative. I too have seen him active in my community. Not only does he know what the key problems are within Auckland, he has plans to solve them. Mark won’t be a mayoral candidate with Auckland Council ‘training wheels’ still on.

Thomas said he acknowledged the hard work and effort councillors, local board members and others within the council group put into their roles. He was keen to work with anyone who shared his belief that Auckland needed new leadership.

He would soon begin a round of meetings around the region to further discuss his ideas with Aucklanders so they can help develop the platform he takes to next year’s council election.

You can check out Mark's launch video at: Mark Thomas – A new Mayor for Auckland

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