This afternoon from STUFF.co.nz, promising signs from John McLeod: Report-ripping New Plymouth District councillor John "Horse" McLeod believes his national profile can put the city on the map.
In confirming his bid yesterday for the district's mayoralty, Mr McLeod compared his pulling power to that of other controversial and colourful local body politicians Michael Laws and Tim Shadbolt.
Mr McLeod, a former SAS soldier, rose to national prominence in 2002 when he won reality TV show Treasure Island; Extreme and then hosted Celebrity Treasure Island 2 one year later.
He was also a panel member on television advice programme How's Life before becoming a councillor in 2007.
"I can put our province out there probably more so than our current mayor," he said yesterday. "Hey, people will be interested in our province. It puts it out there instead of being a quiet backwater.
"Let's look at a prime example: Tim Shadbolt in Invercargill, Michael Laws in Wanganui."
He will be campaigning with fellow maverick councillor Sherril George, who has dropped her own mayoral ambitions to support him.
Mr McLeod is the fourth candidate and third sitting councillor to put his hand up for the job of leading the New Plymouth District when Peter Tennent steps down.
He joins councillors Phil Quinney and Maurice Betts and businessman John Rae.
Former Labour MP Harry Duynhoven is widely expected to throw his hat in the ring before nominations close on August 20.
Despite tough competition for the position, Mr McLeod, the highest-polling councillor in the last elections, is confident voters will give him a mandate to rule.
He and Ms George are frequently allied at council meetings and have at times been joined by councillors Craig McFarlane, Shaun Biesiek and Andrew Judd.
In 2007 and 2008 the five councillors were dubbed the "Razor Gang" for their efforts to reduce council spending.
This would be on the agenda again if his run at office was successful, Mr McLeod said.
A council under his leadership would focus its spending on critical and core services such as roads, sewerage, water and waste and he hoped this would help keep rate hikes in line with inflation.
"But I don't want to cut the fun factor out of our community. I want it to move forward. I want our community to progress but with affordability," he said.
Mr McLeod has often been at loggerheads with the council-funded business lobby Venture Taranaki, and famously tore a VT report in half at a council meeting.
Voting papers will be mailed out from September 17 and the postal vote will close a little over three weeks later on October 9.
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