The best way to get me motivated is to upset me and the Timaru Herald is very good at doing that. They are that one eyed they wont print my letters if the dont agree with the content. Here is my last 3 letters to the Editor that never got published
Century Pool
What does Janie Annear, Jane Coughlan, Terry Kennedy, Damon Odey and the Editorial Staff of the Timaru Herald have in common. They all in favour of closing down one of Timaru’s most loved historic recreational icons the 110 year old Century swimming Pool. I have been writing letters to the Timaru Herald for over 30 years and have been outspoken on many controversial issues which has clearly made me unpopular. The editorial staff of the Timaru herald have demonstrated they don’t like me and wont publish my letters anymore, so goodbye and thanks Timaru for the 329 votes.
Rural Votes
I was interested in Wynne Raymond’s letter to the Editor regarding his thoughts on how to make the voting system fairer for all those in the district.
Like Wynne I have family and friends that chose to live in a rural community and they to complain about the fact that they are only given the right to have one vote.I feel sorry for the 10,545 voters in the rural areas that don’t get to have a vote on who they would like to see represent them on the council.
Yes it would be a good idea to get it changed for the next election but do we have to wait that long. I am not expecting to get elected as Mayor so I am gathering together a group of supporters who want to change things and I don’t have to be the Mayor or a councillor to do it. This week I have been knocking on doors gathering names and donations from people who want to save the Century Pool. By the end of the week I will have over 100 members of the Save the Century Pool Club and once the schools go back it should be no trouble to get 1000 financial members who don’t want to lose their 11o year old swimming pool. Anyone can do it all you have to do is find a good cause in the community and people will support it. Now when I go along to the next council meeting to speak in the public forum I won’t be just one voice I will be 1000 voices.
PRESS RELEASE
Century Pool will not close without a fight
I would appear that when the next Mayor and councillors take office they are going to have a real fight on their hands with the local residents in Parkside over the closing of Century Pool. Today I called on over 30 residents near the Century Pool and 90% wanted to keep the Century pool open in order to continue servicing the local residents and schools it the area. Not only did they want to save the Century Pool from closing but they were also prepared to make a financial contribution to a fighting fund and appoint me as their spokesman to help save it. One young student made a donation from her pocket money towards the save the Century Pool Public Appeal and promised to encourage her friends to do the same. I will continue calling on residents and business owners in the area for the rest of the week and will canvas the schools when they open after the holidays. Those who are elected to our next local government had better be prepared for a real fight against public opinion on this one. For me it’s not about wanting to wear the mayoral chains and getting my name on a plaque it’s about caring about families who want to have a say about what they want and not be dictated to by a group of bullies.
Thanks
I wish to thank the one person who voted for me in the Timaru Herald election poll. I realise that I have upset the odd person with my outspoken personality over the years but to think that one person out of every 117 said they will vote for me for Mayor has to be an exciting result. In fact I had no idea that I have so many friends in Timaru. There are some people ahead of me in the mayoral race but don’t write me off just yet because all my votes could be sitting with the silent majority just like the votes in favour of the aquatic centre. I also must thank the Timaru Herald for donating me a front page advertisement last week However I regret to inform readers that the candidates swim in the Century pool and the walk though the City to share ideas for its redevelopment last Sunday had to be called off due to lack of interest. I know many of the candidates are still interested in sharing their ideas about the revitalisation of the City so to cover all the excuses the time for the walk has been changed to first thing this Tuesday morning. The swim in century pool and the photo shoot of candidates posing in their swimming togs for the television cameras is now an option because it has been revealed that many of them don’t have any togs or have forgotten how to swim. At the time of writing the Mayor has apologised that she can’t make if for the swim or the walk the talk through the City because she has an early morning meeting Finally In answer to Brian Wards criticism of me in his letter 30th Sept he is right I did offer to give him some encouragement and motivation in the last elections but he refused my offer. When the votes were counted we both fell off our horse and the only difference is that I got back on my horse again but he didn’t.
