Hopes to fill her mother’s dying wish
A Queenstown Lakes District councillor hopes to fulfil her mother’s dying wish to take her place on the regional council.
Dr Ella Lawton, a second-term councillor on the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Wanaka Community Board, will stand in the by-election for the Otago Regional Council.
The seat was left vacant after her mother, Dr Maggie Lawton, died on March 13 after a short battle with cancer.
‘‘I didn’t give it a huge amount of thought at the time given the situation, but after [her passing] I have heard from a number of family members and Michael [Laws] that it had been something she had spoken to them about. She had a plan in mind and that has only encouraged me more to take on this challenge and stand,’’ Ella said.
Lawton said her colleagues at the district council, including mayor Jim Boult and chief executive Mike Theelan, had encouraged her to stand given the importance of the position on the regional council.
The Dunstan Ward faced huge challenges in balancing environmental protection with economic growth over the next decade and needed ‘‘good science to underpin decision-making and great community engagement’’.
‘‘Over the next decade, the Dunstan Ward will be challenged to ensure strong environmental protection while enjoying economic growth. Through community engagement, Otago Regional Coun- cil must have a long-term sciencebased plan to ensure we can protect what we love about the region, while enabling a strong and diverse local economy. This has been my focus on the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and a role I hope to bring to the Otago Regional Council.’’
Lawton has influential roles on the Upper Clutha Water Group, Lake Wanaka Tourism, Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust, Albert Town Community Association, Upper Clutha Tracks Trust, and Kahu Youth.
She teaches business strategy development for Otago University’s MBA program, and has researched the Otago Food Economy.
She has a doctorate in architecture, a Master of Science (sustainability) and holds undergraduate degrees from Otago University in law and science (ecology).
Regional councillor Michael Laws said Lawton was the ‘‘natural successor to her mother, Maggie’’ and he would support her candidacy for the Dunstan vacancy.
‘‘It was Maggie’s dying wish that Ella succeed her – a wish that she expressed frequently to myself and others. It was not a view based on family, but on the Ella’s strong science credentials and her practical experience of Otago people and politics.’’