Political grouping 2021 turned up the heat in the Christchurch
mayoralty campaign yesterday, announcing Spreydon Heathcote community
board member Dr Megan Woods will take on Cr Bob Parker for the
city's top job.
It was a close race for Woods but competition did not play a
role. The former academic and current business manager for Crop
and Food Research was 2021's sole mayoralty hopeful.
Rather, Woods' biggest challenge was winning the backing of the
group's strategic planning committee, which spent the first half
of its 2<1/2 hour closed-door meeting deciding whether to front
a candidate in the first place.
Woods, 33, said she was happy with the outcome and looked forward
to generating some healthy debate in what many have regarded as
a lacklustre campaign.
"I think there's a very discernible feeling in the community
that the present council hasn't got its finger on the pulse of
the city ... that's very much what I've learned as a community
board member."
Many would regard Woods' job as an unenviable one, with Parker,
running as an independent, the anointed frontrunner to replace
outgoing Mayor Garry Moore. But 2021 chairman Carl Pascoe said
there was more to the mayoralty race than appearances.
"The issue is what does profile have to do with competence?
People confuse profile with competency."
Pascoe then launched into a lengthy recitation of Woods' curriculum
vitae, which includes a PhD in history, lecturing experience,
business contracts and her present job at Crop and Food.
Politically, she has sat since 2004 as a member of the Spreydon
Heathcote Community Board. She also ran in the 2005 general election
for the Progressive Party.
Pascoe described Woods as a highly competent, smart and personable
woman and a worthy candidate for mayor.
Woods' focus on giving the public a stronger voice in local politics
was a key issue in the election, he said.
"It's about public participation, getting the community
feeling like they can reach back into the council and have a real
impact on the system."
In addition to bolstering public involvement, Woods said she
shared the 2021 vision for a sustainable future mindful of the
city's "social, environmental and economic needs".
Those concerns gave rise to 2021 about 10 years ago, when politicians
from Labour and other parties came together with a common vision.
"Clearly, I think one of the pressing needs – and
which there is a lot of smart thinking about – is transport,
and that is integral to the way we grow and develop communities
within the boundary of the city," added Woods.
She planned to kick off her campaign today knocking on doors
with Labour MP Tim Barnett, who has publicly thrown his support
behind her candidacy.
For further comment contact:
Megan Woods - 2021 Candidate for Mayor
Mobile: 027 669 0457
Email: megan@megan4mayor.com
