Early skills playing out on council stage
FROM country singer to councillor, Invercargill’s new deputy mayor never imagined she would be involved in politics.
Born and raised in Invercargill, Mrs Biddle grew up surrounded by music at home.
Her father was a singer and her uncle was founder of a Southland country association.
She started to make presentations and tour with the trio Natani.
The stage was ‘‘her normal’’. ‘‘It was all I knew — and I think this enabled me to be confident with people. I don’t shy away.’’
But it would still take some years for her to use these skills on ‘‘another stage’’: the council table.
Mrs Biddle worked for 11 years at the Ministry of Social Development, and it was there she noticed how a politician could make a difference.
‘‘I noticed politicians really have a influence in how things are implemented
. . . I thought, if this is how you make changes, I want to do that.’’
She started to get more involved in politics and to attend some council meetings, and in one of those she decided to stand for council.
The penny dropped when Mrs Biddle saw a councillor sleeping during a public submission.
‘‘It is intimidating when you go there . . . You have 13 faces, plus staff and media . . . I noticed some of them were having a nodoff. I was furious.’’
She was elected with the thirdhighest vote tally in her first term and was reelected this year.
Among all decisions made in her first term, the controversial Southland Disabilities Enterprises contract was the most challenging debate, she said.
‘‘I think we all lost track of the bigger picture. I learnt so much and I would hate to see that happening again.’’
Mrs Biddle said one of her main goals was to make the council work in a better way.
After announcing last year she would run for the mayoralty against Sir Tim Shadbolt, pulling out of that race was the best thing she had ever done, she said.
She does not deny a desire to be mayor one day, but says she now wants to learn from the best.
‘‘He is undoubtedly a man from the people. He is a really good listener.’’
Despite some criticism from fellow councillors, she said what Sir Tim needed was support.
‘‘And myself and whole council, we are ready to do it.’’