MICHAEL BAINES

Michael Anderson is a trier. He is also an optimist.

The 50-year-old is standing for a seat on the council for a third, consecutive time.

A self-employed computer technician who after 20 years in Upper Hutt claims to be ‘‘well and truly local’’, he is also honest and up front about being an active member of the National Party,

‘‘If elected my focus will be guiding the efficient delivery of bread-and-butter core services,’’ he said.

‘‘Recycling, and rubbish in general, should be more the council’s responsibility. User pays makes sense for rubbish but not for recycling which, if managed properly, can pay for itself,’’ he said.

Upper Hutt has an untapped potential to support innovative, environmentally low impact businesses.

It also has wonderful amenities, an abundance of parks and almost endless recreational opportunities, he said.

‘‘The one thing we are tardy on is not having a dog exercise park and I’m very open to that as an idea.’’ Michael Baines has a definite view on the Upper Hutt’s city’s council’s approach to economic development policies.

‘‘This council’s policy is just reactive, they are doing a John Key and bowing to public opinion,’’ Baines said.

‘‘Retailing is fantastic but it’s there largely an outcome of industrial growth.’’

After more than a decade as chief executive of the Motel Association of New Zealand, today Baines, 62, is both ‘‘semi-retired and busy’’.

He is doing consultancy work and continuing a long tenure as chair of the Cancer Society’s Daffodil Enterprises trading company.

A former Heretaunga College boy, in the 1990s Baines headed the Upper Hutt Economic Development Agency, an in-house city council operation .

‘‘We were there for six years and for five of them had a 5.6 per cent growth,’’ he said. ’’I believe that there is so much potential in Upper Hutt as an economic entity while maintaining its place as a thoroughly liveable city.’’