Stuff Digital Edition

Hamilton East elections

Jessie Rodrigo, Hamilton

Twenty-four candidates standing for the Hamilton East by-elections request you to vote for them to earn over $74,000 for the next 12 months.

When you look at their profiles, some of them do not live in Hamilton East. Some of them had been past political party candidates in different electorates. With the advancement of modern technology, social media, Google search and Facebook gives a clear picture of the candidate’s past.

This is the time candidates will recognise you in the street, smile at you and listen to you. But once elected they do not know who you are and you cannot contact them by phone or in person. When residents made the submission that they do not want an 8.9 per cent rate increase, did they listen to the voters? Except one, they all voted to increase the rates by 8.9 per cent. They did not know the value of the votes they received. Same as these 24 candidates next year, they will knock on your door begging for your vote.

Next year the election system changes and we definitely need to introduce all new blood into the council to listen and to look after the community.

Opinion

en-nz

2021-07-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-07-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281809991922205

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