David Bublitz deputy mayor
Second term councillor David Bublitz has landed the New Plymouth deputy mayor’s job.
His promotion was announced by New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom on Friday, less than two weeks after the election.
‘‘Dave has got a set of skills that I think compliment mine,’’ Holdom said.
‘‘He’s got 20 plus years in education and in high performance coaching and I think those skills will be critical as we build this new governance team.’’
Bublitz replaces Richard Jordan in the job after the latter did not seek reelection.
His move into local body politics follows his father Lynn’s long and distinguished role as a New Plymouth councillor.
Bublitz senior served two terms as deputy mayor, from 2001 to 2007, before he stood down after 27 years around the council table in 2013.
The director of sport at New Plymouth Boys’ High School, Bublitz revealed he would be moving to a part-time role in that job to devote more time to being deputy mayor.
‘‘I still want to stay at Boys’ High because I love that place,’’ he said. ‘‘This job will be as much time as it needs to be, and I’m prepared to put in as much time as I need to because I want to do a really good job.’’
Bublitz has gone from winning at a spot on council in 2019 by just three votes to be the third-highest polling candidate in the Kaitake Ngāmotu ward in 2022.
However, his appointment in no way was a signal that he was already wanting to look at the possibility of contesting the mayoralty in 2025.
‘‘That’s way too far ahead,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m honestly just humbled and honoured to be handed this role, and I’ll see where this takes me.’’
The appointment of Bublitz may surprise some in the community who might have thought mayoral candidate and highest polling district wide councillor Dinnie Moeahu might have landed the job.
Holdom said he would announce the ‘‘broader structure’’ of the council’s governance team and Moeahu would play a ‘‘significant role’’ in that.