It is somewhat surprising to Ponsonby News that candidate for Mayor, Mark Thomas, has not been attracting more media coverage. He has a good story to tell.
It is hard to argue with Mark Thomas’ assertion that Auckland needs a new mayor who understands council and local politics. He also believes his diverse business experience will be a valuable asset. He told Ponsonby News he will be ready to hit the ground running and deliver the effective leadership Auckland needs.
The three key policy points that Mark Thomas stresses as integral to his plans for Auckland are that the city is more affordable to live in, that the city delivers better transport sooner, and that growth must be sorted.
Thomas has held the portfolios of strategy, finance, the unitary plan and economic development while on the Orakei Local Board, so he has built up a comprehensive understanding of how the city functions and its deficiencies.
He is a one-time National Party candidate for the Mana electorate, but believes he is better suited in Local Government, where he can combine his business experience with his desire to be near his wife and two children. I caught him the day before he left for a school holiday break.
Mark Thomas was born in Te Kuiti. His grandfather was Chairman of the Reporoa County Council, he proudly told us, who received a Queen’s Service Order for services to local government and the community. Mark has held top jobs in corporate New Zealand, including Head of Group Marketing and Corporate Affairs at ANZ Bank.
Thomas is proud of his showing in local elections. In 2013 he was re-elected to the Orakei Board with almost 17,000 votes - the sixth highest of all 170 elected to Auckland Council.
Mark and Wendy Lai have two boys aged 10 and 13. Wendy is a senior partner in the consulting business of Deloitte, and Deputy Chair of the Counties Manukau District Health Board.
Thomas has a comprehensive plan to fix Auckland’s transport problems called, 'Better Transport Sooner'. He will direct Auckland Transport to establish six new Regional Transport Boards with a formal delegation to approve and fund sub-regional and local transports. The six boards will be chaired by an Auckland Transport director, and be comprised of ward councillors and local board transport leads.
There are other problems to fix. Mark Thomas knows which these are, and believes he can fix them. On liquor licensing, for example, he would put a local board member on the District Licensing Committee, so decisions made have a genuine local voice. He quotes the recent report on how the Super City is performing, noting that it was critical of local community interaction and consultation. Even where they do consult, they often have no teeth to implement decisions that locals want. He would give local boards more powers.
Mark Thomas quoted from the pre-election report of the council. “It was too much of a good news document,” he told us, “and it neglected to mention the satisfaction and trust statistics.” Only 15% are satisfied with the council, while only 17% trust them. That must change, Thomas says, and as mayor he will change the culture of the council to get that trust back. “There are many good people at Auckland Council,” Thomas assures us, “but there is a huge need to restore confidence in council officers, councillors and board members.”
There are higher priorities than selling off, or getting rid of, Ports of Auckland, Mark Thomas believes, but he would explore the possibility of swapping the port company assets for other more urgently needed assets such as the Dominion Road or Symonds Street upgrades.
Mark Thomas is a highly personable man with a keen sense of humour and a wicked grin. He is clearly devoted to his family, and wants the best for Aucklanders, their children and their children’s children.
Best of all, I think as mayor he would bring a balanced view of Auckland and its future needs to the table. He calls himself the middle man, a reference of course to Goff on the left and Crone on the right. He seems pragmatic to me, and not overly ideological in his thinking.
He would have a steady hand on the tiller as Mayor of Auckland, with experience to know when to change direction and how to solve the problems that are the bane of all growing cities worldwide. It just may be, too, that Mark Thomas’ local board experience may fit him to work more effectively than other candidates with the difficult bureaucrats of whom Auckland has its fair share.
Ponsonby News predicts that as Aucklanders get to know Mark Thomas better, his popularity as a mayoral candidate will grow, making him a genuine contender to lead Auckland for the next three years. (JOHN ELLIOTT)