This Election is about Open and Honest Government
Open, honest, and fair government: No secret backers
I strongly believe in open, honest and democratic (local) government. I am therefore challenging all candidates to declare the source of all their donations and expenditure before the election, and after.
In the past two elections, Kerry Prendergast refused to disclose the source of her donations, including those over $1000.
The law says only every donation over $1,000 has to be declared. This means that anonymous donations can be accepted. In the past the incumbent has said that her donations were all anonymous and refused to disclose who her backers were.
I believe it is very important in government and elections to be transparent about the source of funds. I have nothing to hide. If that means that some people will not donate, that's fine by me.
The issue is one Central government is confronting right now with the Electoral Finance Bill, which is a direct result of "outed" secret Exclusive Brethren "backers".
There should be no secret backers and no possible conflicts of interest for the Mayor and Wellington City Council.
There's Waterfront land up for grabs, property development, sales of public assets, sale of CBD property ( ground leases) and district Plan issues around how high (the latest "Tory Canyon" - Tory St - 36 stories) inner City Buildings can go, heritage incentives.