Three years ago, Susan O’Regan’s official candidate profile said everything we wanted it to say. That’s why I voted for her. That’s why I am so disappointed now. Here’s what she wrote:
We need a better future Waipa for everyone. We need energetic, experienced, fresh leadership to drive us through a challenging but exciting time of change for our District.
You need a Council that's easier to deal with and understands you. A Council that listens, communicates effectively and delivers. Together we can build a future Waipa that's exciting for all: the young, the not so young, rural and urban alike. And that's why I'm standing for Mayor.
I'm straightforward, honest and approachable. I'm energetic, experienced and have the necessary independence to shift Waipa up a gear. I'm a natural communicator and collaborator with a strong track-record of advocating and delivering for the community.
The council has become much harder to deal with, and clearly does NOT understand us. We know we are not listened to, and council delivers dishonest communication to mislead us.
She failed. Those of us who have watched her in the council chambers have seen that she is not straightforward or approachable. She may be energetic and experienced enough to silence other councillors, using her natural communication, but she has lost any independence from the staff who really run the council. She has neither advocated for the community nor delivered the outcomes we want.
She starts with “We need a better future Waipa for everyone”. We certainly do, but we will be starting without her and three years late.
