Media Release
8 July 2010

Annette Main to stand for Mayor

Successful local businesswoman and respected regional councillor Annette Main today announced that she will stand for the Wanganui mayoralty in the council elections this October.

“This is a proud city, proud of our achievements, proud of our community, and proud of our unique place in the world. Yet people are telling me they are worried we are not living within our means as a city and that we need to spend more time getting the basics right,” Annette Main said.

Annette Main said she intends taking a fresh approach to civic leadership that focuses on bringing people together and providing leadership you can rely on.
“We have strong and resilient groups in our community who are passionate about our city and we need to build on that strength, resilience and passion to bring people together and find the common ground vital to moving the city forward,” Annette Main said.

“Everyone has a contribution to make in achieving the great potential of our city and under my leadership no-one will be left out or left behind, and every idea will be treated with respect because no one person has a monopoly on good ideas.”

“I have a solid track record of listening to the community and a commonsense ability to get things done by including people at the outset and taking people along with me, so that people feel they have a genuine stake in the future.”
Annette Main said that her top priority will be a new partnership for progress that will balance delivering high quality Council services and investing in promoting the city in order to grow local businesses and attract new business investment.

“First, we need to make sure we get the basics right, which means making sure we are living within our means as a city and that the basic services we all take for granted, like good quality roads and footpaths, waste collection, sports fields and community facilities are maintained and improved,” Annette Main said.

“And we need to cleverly promote our city as a world class destination both for visitors and for business investment so we can grow the local economy to deliver the lifestyle we want and the employment opportunities we need.”
“By bringing people together, getting the basics right and focusing on what really needs to get done to move us forward, this city will be unbeatable.”
Annette Main said she is standing as an independent candidate for the mayoralty and will be running a grass roots ‘people power’ campaign that will involve friends and supporters of every political persuasion and from every corner of Wanganui.

“The sheer number of people who have encouraged me to stand and have offered their help and support should I decide to run has been overwhelming and humbling. Their kindness and generosity, and belief in our city and its future, is precisely what makes this such a wonderful place,” Annette Main said.
Annette Main is a successful local business person and local government leader, serving the community on the Horizons Regional Council for 12 years. Along with her husband John, she owns and operates The Flying Fox, an award winning tourism business based alongside the Whanganui River. She also co-ordinates Journeys on the Whanganui, a successful cluster of tourism businesses working collaboratively with the community in which they work.

Annette Main also is the key driver behind the weekly River Traders Market on the downtown riverbank, which has developed a national reputation as one of the best in the country. As well as providing an additional draw card for visitors the market provides an opportunity for local producers and entrepreneurs to showcase their products.

ENDS

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