Thursday, July 19, 2001

Hutt 2020 congratulates Julie Englebretsen and Steve Ritchie on being successfully selected to contest the Hutt City Council elections in the Northern Ward.

Julie Englebretsen is currently Deputy Chair of the Northern Ward Committee.

She has been active in community issues over a long period of time in the Northern and Eastern wards. She is also a member of the Stokes Valley Community House Committee and the George St Action Group, as well as many other community orientated groups. She has been a Kindergarten teacher for the last 20 years.

Julie is well known for getting things done. Her latest successfully completed projects include the Naenae Park car park, McManaway Grove Playground, and safer parking for Delaney Park. Her latest project is the Pomare Rail Corridor Beautification Project.

Key areas of interest are community safety, youth, environment, and local democratic representation.

Steve Ritchie is a Marketing Manager and Company Director in the IT industry.

Steve has also been actively involved in local community issues for some time. Most recently he has been involved in getting traffic calming measures implemented locally, and is lobbying for improvements in bus services to the Northern and Western Wards

Steve's recreational interests include running, mountain biking and flying (he has a pilot's license).

Talking about his reasons for standing, Steve Ritchie said: "On examining Hutt 2020's principles and policies, I found them so close to my own views that I became convinced that this ticket provided an environment in which my efforts at serving the local community would be well supported and truly effective".

Both Steve and Julie believe that the Northern Ward has not been well served by the current council. The council's attitude is summed up by their refusal to establish a community board for the Northern Ward.

"To be told by the local Northern Ward City Vision councillor that he would support the establishment of a community board to better represent the Northern Ward's interests, and then have the same councillor vote against community boards at a Council meeting a week later, was the last straw for me", said Steve Ritchie.

Julie Englebretsen agrees. "We need local people to represent the interests of Taita and Stokes Valley and if the incumbents councillors won't - then Steve and I will", she said. Both Steve and Julie are currently organising a petition to persuade the Council to establish a community board for the Northern Ward.

Julie Englebretsen and Steve Ritchie have already worked well together on a number of issues, and are looking forward to working together on Council. "Together, I believe, we have the vigour and experience to get things done, and to get them done well for the Northern Ward", said Steve Ritchie.

Ends

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