Tana launches bid to win second term
Porirua Mayor Mike Tana says he will be playing a ‘‘straight bat’’ this election and steering clear of any under-the-table agreements.
He made the comments yesterday as he prepared to launch his campaign to win a second term.
Also in the running for the Porirua mayoralty are councillors Mike Duncan and Anita Baker, and former deputy mayor ‘Ana Coffey.
Tana said that if he won a second term, he would work on boosting economic growth, continuing to fix housing problems and protecting Porirua Harbour.
He said he already had shown the people of Porirua that he was able to deliver results.
‘‘I do want to be mayor of this city a second term. I believe I have done the work, I believe the communities are behind me, I believe business are behind me. Together, I want to make Porirua a place for our people to aspire to work, live and thrive in.’’
However, his term has not been clear sailing, with council budget blowouts, questions about his personal expenses, and the ongoing issue of his family living in Rotorua.
Tana said he still had plans for his family to move to Porirua but wouldn’t say when. His 16-yearold son is currently living with him in Porirua. ‘‘It is a decision for my wife and I.’’
Baker and Coffey will be encouraging constituents to cast votes for each other. Baker will suggest she be ranked first and Coffey second on the ballot, and vice versa for Coffey. If voters act the way they suggest, then under the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, the votes will go to the other candidate if one of them isn’t successful.
Tana denied he had struck a similar deal with Duncan, a Western ward councillor who announced his candidacy last week.
However, he would ‘‘definitely talk about the value’’ of Duncan publicly. ‘‘Mike has been a great advocate on the council . . . and an amazing advocate for me.’’
Asked if he had plans for what he would do if he lost, Tana replied: ‘‘I will win.’’