Liz McMillan has been Ashburton’s deputy mayor for two terms and has confirmed with Local Democracy Reporting that she is ready to take on the top job.
“I’m ready to step up,” she said.
McMillan added she wanted to get her announcement out of the way early rather than it be a distraction as “there is plenty of work to get on with in the next six months”.
Knowing that Brown was tossing up his future, McMillan said she had also pondered what her next move would be.
“Neil was considering his options and we had the conversation, so he knew where I was at. I just had to wait for him to make his decision, like everyone else,” she told LDR.
“I knew I wouldn’t stand against him, he is a great mayor, but if he was stepping down, I knew I would give it a go.’
McMillan had three terms on the Methven Community Board, with two as the chairperson, before deciding to make a run at the council.
She was elected as the highest polling candidate in the Western Ward, one of several new councillors in 2016 under first-term mayor Donna Favel – the first female mayor of the district.
Meanwhile Jeff Ryan, another mayoral hopeful, is confident of winning this year’s local body election despite being convicted for possession of firearms.
Competition is heating up in the race for mayor, as another new candidate hopeful joins – councillor Rob Mackle.
The 56-year-old Ryan was this week philosophical following his conviction in the Ashburton District Court last week, understanding police laying the charges.
‘‘They can’t have one rule for me and one rule for others,’’ Ryan said.
Criminal convictions do not necessarily stop someone from standing in local body elections. New candidates serving a sentence of imprisonment for a term of three years or more are prevented from standing, but not those who receive fines.
Ryan was convicted and fined $500 for having a 12-gauge double barrel shotgun and .22 calibre semi-automatic rifle but no licence.
The guns had belonged to his parents. He had obtained them due to wanting to protect his family after threats towards his partner’s daughter.
Ryan said he did not think the charges and conviction would hinder his chances to be elected as mayor.
‘‘I have pleaded guilty, I have shown transparency and said ‘Hey, judge me like you will’.’’
Also intending to run for mayor is district councillor Rob Mackle.
Mackle told Local Democracy Reporting he would not restand as a district councillor.
‘‘I’m all in or all out,’’ Mackle said.
He is looking to follow in the footsteps of younger brother Craig who is in his second term as the mayor of Kaikoura.
Mackle joined the district council in a by-election in the Western Ward in May 2023 following the sudden death of Rodger Letham in December 2022.
Opposite to Ryan, who has pledged to scrap the proposed second Ashburton River bridge location and install a bypass, Mackle said he was not going to make any grand promises of major changes.
He would take a team approach with councillors as they faced the big issues.
“I am more than happy with the way the council has been tracking,’’ Mackle said.
Incumbent Neil Brown yesterday announced at the district council meeting he will not seek a third term as mayor.
“This decision doesn’t mean I stop here and now, we still have six months left of this term,” Brown said.
He said until the local body elections in October it would be “pedal to the metal” getting things done.
“I also see the next mayor coming from around this table,” he said, referring to the potential for his fellow district councillors to stand.
Nominations for this year’s election open Friday, July 4.
