I am passionate about community and the environment. I believe that "Environmental Health is Wealth" i.e. policies that promote environmental health not only enhance personal health, but a healthy environment produces huge wealth creation opportunities for business and employment. A Council who invests infrastructure into healthy environments now, will avoid huge cost burdens in the future. 

I have had a long term involvement in environmental protection and was a founding volunteer for the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust.

"I believe I have something to contribute and can offer fresh thinking to the Governance of the Regional Council and encourage voters to Tick Tim. It is important that Councils have renewal for Governance to grow."

I have experience in Public and Private Governance; Trustee of Mount Tutu Eco-Sanctuary Trust, Breast Cancer Action Trust, former Trustee of Tauranga Girls College and former Chair of Oropi Primary School. I have been self employed for 32 years, a practicing Conservation Conservator, Life Member Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, Company Director, and prides myself in not being an academic or a beauracrat, but a common sense practical problem solver, without conflicts of interest.

In 2003 Debbie and Tim Short together petitioned Parliament with 125,000 signatures which resulted in the Breast Screening programme being expanded to 45 - 69yrs from the previous 50 - 64yrs age of eligibility.

Top 5 Issues

1. "Environmental Health is Wealth" i.e. policies that promote environmental health not only enhance personal health, but a healthy environment produces huge wealth creation opportunities for business and employment. A Council who invests infrastructure into healthy environments now, will avoid huge cost burdens in the future.
   
2. Planned Growth and investment in infrastructure for the expected future growth e.g. the northern arterial route, state highway 2, from Tauranga to Katikati has the highest accident rate in the region and has been appallingly neglected. This is because current Councillors have not had the will to drive this issue. This needs to change.
3. Regular consultation with the community is very important. There are many issues going on within the Regional Council that affect you. It's important that Councillors remain community connected during their term, by fronting up to meetings in the community, and not just when they want your vote at election time. I would seek to get input from the community with a feedback form through regular community newsletters. Often Councillors only do the telling in articles, but not the asking. By community connection I'm not talking about the formal consultation on planning matters etc that's legally required and often Councillors consider that if this is being done, they are consulting with their community - how wrong they are!
   
   The Courts recently rapt this Council over the knuckles concerning its intended relocation from Whakatane to Tauranga because of - yes - inadequate consultation.
4. Good Governance - means that policy direction is set by your elected representatives, not rubber stamping recommendations by management. When that happens, democracy fails and it's the bureaucrats that are really in charge because the elected reps have opted for the easy life. Good Governance means having robust debate and critically analysing the spin from the executive managers.
5. Renewal - Councils need renewal! This is not an age issue, it is simply that renewal is necessary in any organisation for Governance to grow. Some turnover of elected members each election is a positive part of democracy.

Personal Profile

I am 54 years young - recent research says, that "Life now begins at 54!" Yay!   I live with my family in a healthy environment at Mount Tutu Eco-Sanctuary, which is a wildlife paradise, with trees over 500 years old and native birdlife and Glow Worms in abundance.   "I love caring for the wildlife at Mount Tutu Eco-Sanctuary and at Otanewainuku, where I have volunteered for Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust since 2004."

"My family are my pride and joy - my wife Debbie and my daughters Rebecca, Jacinda and Louisa, who sing as "The Short Sistars" popular classics in harmony at Charity Concerts, Rest Homes, and can be seen busking in the Bay.

My interests -  Tramping, gardening, living healthily and caring for the environment.

A long time ago I also used to be a Mountaineer. There is a chapter about this in a book currently available entitled "High Misadventure" by Paul Hersey.

I'm a Breast Cancer supporter and volunteer.