Two Community Boards want the October election debates to focus on policies rather than personalities.
Paraparaumu/Raumati and Paekākāariki Board Chairs John Haxton and Adrian Webster say that people want to know what candidates will actually to do if they are elected. “That’s what we’ve been told by many of our residents who comprise 60% of the district.
“If people know what they are voting for many more people will be encouraged to vote. As Boards we have an important advocacy role and that includes responsibility for identifying the important issues facing the district over the next three years.
“For years we’ve seen candidates promise the world and then when they fail to deliver blame the fact that they couldn’t get support. We believe that we can improve local democracy by identifying the key policy issues for the 2010 election.