Are you concerned about poor decisions and reckless spending by City Council?  I support openness on financial decisions, value for rates and will listen to your concerns.

My rural upbringing, science background, software developer and business owner, community involvement, elected regional councillor experiences have prepared me to work for you.

I believe in transparency, public participation and councillors leading not following.  We need oversight on how money is spent and to support our communities as they are the strength of our city. I believe in prudent investment in infrastructure, environment and water and will work for improved transportation, planning, economic development, protecting heritage, controlling rates. It is not fair to load debt on future generations.  I want wise spending of your money.

As an independent I am accountable to you – not a political party.  Voting for Jane Demeter will give you accessibility, common sense and informed decision making. www.janedemeter.org.nz 365.2399

Top 5 Issues

1. Council processes and decision making need change:
   Systemic process issues need change. We need councillors who 'drive the bus' not 'sit in the back'. They should set the strategy, direction and timing of council delivered outcomes for our community - too little listening to input, too many public excluded meetings, too much secrecy and failure to give timely financial reporting,too many decisions made in haste.
   It should be about participation, openness, responsibility and accountability
2. Communities Count:
   Communities are the strength of our city as we have seen in the days following the earthquake. How we take care of our old, our young and our less able is the measure of our society. To continually cut community funding while spending on projects that have not had any public input should stop.
3. Spending of your rates money:
   Our families and businesses have trimmed spending in these difficult economic times and Council should do likewise.
   Limit loading debt on future generations.
   
   
4. Balancing needed infrastructure and services with affordability:
   The earthquake has highlighted issues around current deferal of needed maintenance and ugrades to infrastructure. Spending priorities need a revisit as do opportunities for savings within existing projects and programmes. Until the extent of the Government assistance package is known the impact on rates is not known. Continuing the current practice of extensive borrowing is not my prefered choice and bonds should be in the mix of considerations.
5. Transport and urban planning including heritage protection:
   Rebuilding our city is a huge task that offers an opportunity to build a more resilient city that will endure for future generations. It should include retaining our heritage and character building streetscapes where possible.
   

Personal Profile

I live in St Albans with my husband Bill and dog Ella. Being raised on a farm bordering the Hurunui River near Cheviot has given me both a town and country perspective. This is valuable in our city as Christchurch is a major economic hub for rural Canterbury.

Teaching High School science, retail management, healthcare support, software development management and business ownership have given me broad experience and responsibilities that help in decision making.

 As a former Regional Councillor with Environment Canterbury I fully understand the role and responsibilities of local government. Chairing the Natural Hazards portfolio and the Biodiversity portfolio provided the opportunity to work within provisos of the Local Government Act and the Resource Management Act. (Portfolios are equivalents of Standing Committees and allowed for more policy development and detailed budget scrutiny than full Council.)

Being a currently certified Resource Management Commissioner allows me to sit on Resource Consent hearings panels – a significant role in providing for the sustainable management of natural and physical resources.

The role of City Councillor combines responsibilities at Council and at our Community Board and I believe it takes more than being well intended. To be effective you need to be well informed on local issues and on the process and laws within which local government operates. To that end I have been attending both City Council and Community Board meetings along with Residents Association meetings throughout our ward. I’m also involved with many community groups across the city and find working with our young people most rewarding.

I am well prepared to work to represent your interests immediately.