"Thinking of all post-earthquake - it has been a terrifying experience and don't we want these post-shakes to stop?!  To those who have suffered losses, I wish you a speedy recovery in rebuilding your homes and lives.

I believe in the saying 'out of adversity comes opportunity' and if elected, I am determined to make sure this happens."

 JENNY BLOXHAM is a not affiliated with any pressure group and promises to vote on issues based solely on their merit and common-sense. No-one is pulling my strings behind the scenes.

I will work FULL-TIME as a Councillor. Given the salary is $87,000+, I believe all Councillors should work fulltime for the City, but that is for Voters to decide what others do.

People ask me what issues I am standing on. I have the opportunity to list 5 on this site and a limit of 150 words on my Candidate profile which will be sent out with the voting papers. 

BUT, there are so many issues - dissatisfaction with the current Council and especially the excessive spending on issues behind closed doors such as the $M17 bail-out of Dave Henderson, hidden cost of new Council premises and $4.6million of furniture, $3 million cost of Ellerslie Flower Show (purchased by unanimous Council vote) which made a loss of $88,000 in it's second year, (sacking of Ecan Councillors and no democratic elections for nearly 4 years), real threats to our future supply of clean and copious water, violence in our neighbourhood, tagging of properties and home invasions threaten the safety in our homes and on our streets, road congestion at peak times, dog registration fees.. the list seems never-ending.

But, with your vote, YOU and I can make a real difference.  Please vote this election; please ensure your voting paper is delivered to City Council Headquarters, a Council Service Centre or Library well before 12 noon this Saturday. or it will not be counted.  I have listed the returning places for this Ward under my Personal Information section below, but you may deliver it to any Council Centre of Library within the City Council area.  Please phone me if you would like more detail on 348 0710.

“I am committed to clear disclosure to residents on Council expenditure and activities

I am most concerned to learn in recent days that current Councillors have been rubber-stamping decisions on policy written by Council Officers and have felt too intimidated to challenge some of the recommendations.

I assure voters that if elected, I will not pass the authority of decision-making over to others. You vote for Councillors to act in your interests and I will not be swayed from that.

Just some of the issues I would address are limiting the ever-increasing cost of rates on residents, upsizing of green rubbish bins, smaller-sized buses and the removal of parking from Riccarton Road during peak times, Faculty of Music established at Ilam, affordable access of residents to “Ellerslie” Garden Show and renaming of event and NO compromise on Christchurch water quality.”

JENNY BLOXHAM served as Member of Parliament from 1996-99 and brings unique experience having served on two select Committees as Deputy-Chair Commerce, and Member of Finance and Expenditure.

“Not only do I have invaluable insight and experience questioning spending at top levels, I also know how to get results in the interests of Christchurch.

”If elected, I will be up and running from Day 1."

With your vote, YOU and I can make a difference.  Please vote this election - please make sure your vote counts.

Top 5 Issues

1. THE major issue has to be the Current City Council which seems so out of touch with Christchurch Residents - and that is what motivated me to stand and offer Residents an alternative vote. The current Council has to be the worst in decades - Excessive spending and rates increasing almost 5% while we are in a recession, lack of accountability and decisions made behind closed doors is not the way to run NZ's 2nd largest city. Residents deserve better from their elected Representatives, don't you? Contact me jennybloxham@mail.com
2. Not THE major issue, but my organic (green) rubbish bin was not emptied because apparently "it was compacted" (I pruned the roses). Council staff handled it very well, but the issue is why is the bin so small that one mow of the lawns fills it (my lawn is quite small). Now that spring is here, the weeds will flourish so where am I to put them? Yes, one can get a larger bin at a cost of $170 a year, but why such a high financial penalty for recycling organic waste? Is this an issue for you? Please let me know jennybloxham@mail.com
3. Dog registration fees - do you get value for money? What are you paying for? As I walk my two mini-dogs, I increasingly hear people tell me if they got another dog, they would not register it. That tells me something must be done about reducing the level of dog registration fees for neutered/spayed dogs. As for the costs of the Dog Pound etc, my two wouldn't get lost even if I tried to leave them behind, so what exactly are we paying for? Are you a dog owner - what do you think? Please tell me jennybloxham@mail.com
4. These issues change by the day. I cannot believe the unfettered power given by Parliament on 14 September to the 7 Commissioners and 3 Minister appointed to oversee the earthquake recovery process. 22 different Acts have been suspended including The Local Government Act 1974 & 2002, The Ratings Valuations Act, The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act. I haven't had time to fully consider the total effect of suspending these Acts, but I am left wondering what the role of your democratically-elected Council will be, if anything. Worse, there is no liability, accountability or culpability on any of the Commissioners or the 3 Ministers Bill English (Finance), Nick Smith (Conservation) or Gerry Brownlee (Earthquake), nor are their actions subject to judicial review. I have never known such extraordinary power to be given to so few. Just one of my concerns is what this means for your rates. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/law-experts-criticise-quake-bill-3805959. If this issue is of concern to you too, please tell me your thoughts.
5. I hear the gripes - Council has been rubber-stamping decisions made by Council Staff and the lack of consulatation on issues. I assure you that I am not a seat warmer or a rubber-stamper. Council needs a strong voice. Please vote and vote early.

Personal Profile

JENNY BLOXHAM is THE only Council Candidate standing as an Independent in Riccarton-Wigram Ward

Election Day has arrived.

20,473 or 48.58%  of votes in Riccarton-Wigram have been returned as of Friday 8 October.  Voting  papers can still be delivered to the new CCC Offices, 53 Hereford St or your local Council Service Centre or Library up to 12 noon.

     .  Riccarton Service Centre, 103 Riccarton Road

• Sockburn Service Centre, 149 Main South Road

• Halswell Library, 381 Halswell Road

• Hornby Library, Goulding Avenue

• Upper Riccarton Library, 71 Main South Road

Please check your family members and neighbours have voted and offer to deliver their papers for them.

There is a saying that Voters get the Government (Council) they deserve.

Our system of 3-yearly elections is to allow residents to evaluate the work performance of our elected Mayor and Councillors.  If you are not happy with the overall performance of your Council, then you should vote to replace them. Re-electing them will not change anything.