Ludlow resigns as deputy mayor after five years in role
Invercargill City Council deputy mayor Darren Ludlow has resigned from the position, citing lack of time and being over committed.
Cr Ludlow met with mayor Tim Shadbolt and chief executive Richard King yesterday morning, to advise them of his decision and present a letter of resignation.
Mayor Tim Shadbolt accepted his resignation.
Ludlow said in his role as deputy mayor, he spent a lot of time filling in for Shadbolt, who travelled frequently.
‘‘As deputy mayor, you’re playing a support role for someone who’s quite unique in New Zealand politics.
‘‘No other city in the country has a Tim Shadbolt, and you are busier than other deputy mayors in the country as he is away a lot of the time.’’
Ludlow said this term, the council had a large amount of new councillors elected.
‘‘To give some consistency in the roles, I probably took on more than I would normally.’’
Ludlow is chairman of the finance and policy committee, the hearings panel, the Invercargill district licensing committee and of the child youth and family friendly committee.
He is also deputy chairman of the chief executive appraisal committee, part of the council contingency fund committee, the audit committee and the regulatory services committee.
Ludlow is also station manager of Radio Southland.
Ludlow said the number of council committees he was part of meant he could not fulfil the roles to the best of his ability, while also being deputy mayor.
‘‘I’ve only got so much time in the day,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s also about having a good work life balance.’’
In the short time that they had known about the resignation, people had been supportive, he said.
In his time as deputy mayor, Ludlow said the biggest project he had been part of was the council’s district plan.
Ludlow’s letter of resignation says he apologised for the ‘‘unexpected nature’’ of the announcement.
‘‘[I] hope it will not cause too much disruption to the positive functioning of civic operations.
‘‘I wish to redirect my focus in order to more significantly contribute leadership in the areas of responsibility that come with my other council roles.
‘‘Thank you for the confidence you have shown in me: I have appreciated the opportunity to serve as deputy mayor for the past five years.
‘‘I will continue to serve constructively as a councillor, as chair of the finance committee, and on my various appointments - as might reasonably be expected by those who have given me a substantial and consistent mandate for the past five elections.
‘‘It is my intention to continue in the role until a replacement is confirmed at the next full meeting of council.’’
The next council meeting will be held on May 23.
A replacement deputy mayor will be chosen by the mayor and councillors at the meeting.