Safe drinking water, council facilities and proper consultation are on the mind of a new candidate for Napier City Council. Jake Brookie announced he is standing for a seat on the Taradale Ward on Tuesday and is clear about the direction he would like the Council to take “the Council is about to embark on the largest spending programme in it’s recent history” says Brookie “yet some these major projects lack public support. Even councillors say that they’ve been left without information on some of them, like the proposed aquatic centre”. Brookie also believes that the Council needs to ensure Napier’s water is safe to swim in and drink.

Jake Brookie is calling on his extensive experience working with the community. He has organised youth groups, taught the community about natural hazards, planned art exhibitions as well as coordinating festivals. One of his most recognisable roles is serving as an educator at The National Aquarium of New Zealand, a Napier City Council owned facility “This makes for an unusual situation” explains Brookie “as I cannot find any record of a Council employee standing for Council before. I am proud to be an educator and my service with the Council is not my motivation for standing. I simply believe that I can help the community even more from around the Council table.”

For the first time in decades, Napier councillors will be elected from Wards only. Jake lives in the Taradale Ward and has some fresh ideas for his community “E-commerce is impacting local retailers around the country, especially small business. I’d like to see more free parking days in winter to help retailers through the quiet season. We can pay for this by allowing advertising on parking meter ticket boxes.” Having a councillor at the Taradale Library each weekend for informal enquiries is also on Brookie’s list.

Jake Brookie is focusing on more than just his own election during his campaign- he also hopes to get more people interested in local government “Councils provide our drinking water, libraries, local roads, parks and community halls. They also make bylaws, dispose of our rubbish and help us recycle- not to mention prepare communities for climate change. The more people voting, the better!” In the 2016 Napier City Council election, only 43% of eligible voters returned their voting papers and Brookie hopes that number will increase this time around.

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