Ex-youth councillor aims higher
He’s served the needs of Nelson’s young people, and now a city council hopeful wants to make Nelson appealing to all generations.
Nominations for the Tasman district and Nelson City council elections officially opened this week, with a number of incumbents and new faces already making their intentions known.
Among the younger hopefuls for Nelson is first-time candidate Campbell Rollo, who is campaigning on a slogan of ‘‘bringing a fresh approach’’ to the council chambers and a commitment to intergenerational thinking to tackle the issues facing ratepayers.
‘‘Council is failing daily on the basis of how to manage money (and) deliver projects, and struggles to think of everyday Nelsonians when making key decisions,’’ Rollo said.
‘‘Nelson’s in a good space, but I think we can get it to a great space.’’
A third-generation Nelsonian, the 21-year-old former Tahunanui School and Garin College student said he was standing because Nelson needed ‘‘a generational change’’ around the council table.
Rollo said he had always had an interest in current events and local politics, but it was only after his first opportunity to vote that he was prompted to run for council.
‘‘When I turned 18, I went along to a lot of the meetings with people running for council, and it sort of gave me a real passion to stand – seeing the things they wanted to achieve and also things that were a bit bizarre kind of gave me the passion to say, ‘Actually, I can bring a different voice to the council table and some better views on things’.’’
Rollo was previously a member of Nelson Youth Council for two years – which offered a glimpse into the council environment as well as seeing the team effort required to get things done.
‘‘We pushed for free wifi on the public bus service, which has recently become a new thing . . . but the greatest thing we achieved was being able to take a voice and an unique opinion to all the city councillors on behalf of the youth of Nelson.’’
Rollo said rejuvenating Nelson’s central business district was one of the key areas he hoped to push for if elected, as was making further inroads in the sport and recreation sector.
‘‘The city council needs to do everything in its power to bring the spark back to the CBD – it’s one thing I’m fully committed to, just making sure the council looks after the current, but also the future, business that may want to come here.
‘‘Seeing the likes of the All Blacks and Black Caps playing in Nelson is always appealing – if we can keep attracting those kind of events, but also making sure we have the right facilities in place to develop our upand-coming sportspeople.’’
Rollo said he was pleased to have the full backing of his family and friends but lamented that his grandfather Bruce – who died last year – was not around to see him run for local government.
‘‘He was a big role model to me, and someone who I’d always sit down and talk politics with.’’
‘‘Council . . . struggles to think of everyday Nelsonians when making key decisions.’’ Campbell Rollo