Tararua District councillor prepared for return

An old hand is preparing his return to the saddle, as the Tararua District Council fills a vacant seat.

Former district councillor Kerry Sutherland was provisionally appointed two weeks ago to fill the council seat left vacant by Ernie Christison’s abrupt resignation during an October council meeting.

Sutherland’s appointment is expected to be ratified at the December council meeting this week and Sutherland has been reacquainting himself with council procedures and issues in preparation.

‘‘I’ll get my sheriff’s badge on Wednesday, depending on the vote . . . I want to be ready to dive straight in. Although, at that first meeting, I think I’m going to be much more mouth shut, ears open.’’

Christison’s resignation didn’t trigger a by-election, since it came less than 12 months before the next election, leaving the council to either appoint a replacement, or leave the seat vacant.

Tararua mayor Tracey Collis proposed Sutherland as an experienced replacement, given his council and community board experience.

Sutherland served two terms as a councillor, from 1995 to 2001, and spent nine years as a board member of Scanpower Customer Trust – seven of them as the chairman.

He was also the highest polling unsuccessful council candidate at the last election.

Sutherland said he accepted the appointment to help the community and do his part to keep the council running smoothly. He didn’t plan to run in the next election.

He decided he was getting too old and had too many commitments to make a good long-term councillor after he missed out in the 2016 election.

‘‘My wife suggested it was a narrow escape and maybe I should’ve taken it as an omen. She thinks I have enough stress in my life after becoming the fulltime manager at Property Brokers [Dannevirke].’’