Up to three district councillors could yet throw their hat in the ring for the district’s mayoralty.
Russell Ellis, 63, Richard Wilson, 56, and Phil Hooper, 56, are all undecided on whether to stand for the role. However, Ellis and Wilson appear to be ‘‘maybes’’, while Hooper says he will ‘‘probably not’’ stand.
Their fellow district councillors Rob Mackle and deputy mayor Liz McMillan have already announced their intention to stand.
The Ashburton Courier approached the remaining district councillors following incumbent Neil Brown announcing on Wednesday last week he would not seek a third term.
Brown said he believed his successor would come from around the district council table. At that time only Mackle had announced he would stand. McMillan made her announcement the following day.
Ellis said he was surprised by Brown’s decision not to restand, and there was still more than six months before the election, so had not yet decided.
‘‘We have only just been informed that Neil isn’t standing again, which does change the ballpark I suppose,’’ Ellis said.
‘‘What I can definitely say 100 per cent I’m standing for council. I do it because I love it.’’
Ellis unsuccessfully stood against Angus McKay for mayor in 2013.
Wilson said he would like to talk to the current mayoral hopefuls of Mackle and McMillan to see if their positions on various issues aligned with his.
He expected to make his mind up within the next couple of weeks.
He would more than likely seek a second term as a district councillor.
With either role, mayor or district councillor, it took 100 per cent commitment.
‘‘It takes a lot of time to do it, it’s not something you can do half-pie,’’ Wilson said.
Hooper said he would make a decision within the next week.
However, he would ‘‘probably not’’ stand for mayor but would ‘‘probably’’ stand again for the district council.
‘‘I haven’t made any concrete decisions,’’ Hooper said.
The remaining members of the 10-member district council – Leen Braam, Carolyn Cameron, Lynette Lovett and Tony Todd – said they would not stand for mayor.
When it came to standing again for the district council, only Todd has made a decision on this. He said he would stand.
Braam, Cameron and Lovett said they had not yet made up their minds.
Confirmed mayoral hopefuls in the lead-up to local body election nominations opening on July 4 are Mackle, McMillan and Ashburton man Jeff Ryan.
