Councillors close ranks on who Central Otago's next mayor may be

Councillors are choosing to close ranks for now declining to comment on who may become the next mayor of Central Otago after current mayor Tim Cadogan's shock announcement he'll be leaving the role mid-term.

It will be up to the district's 11 councillors to determine who will fill the important vacancy.

So, Crux put to each councillor - will they be putting themselves forward for the job of mayor or endorsing someone else for it?

It appears, after a quick bit of back and forth behind the scenes, it was decided deputy mayor Neil Gillespie would provide a collective reply to the questions posed by Crux.

"The general consensus at the moment is that we're all considering our options and, I think, probably trying to get over the news," he says.

Mayor Cadogan announced his planned departure on Monday evening during his weekly Facebook Live.

He is timing his resignation for Labour Weekend to ensure a by-election is not triggered and he bows out before the council's Long Term Plan process ramps up.

Council chief executive Peter Kelly has confirmed next steps are governed by the Local Electoral Act.

According to the act, less than a year out from a local government election a new mayor can be appointed from within the existing elected members of the council.

Mr Kelly also notes the council will be able to continue until the election with a seat empty around the decision making table once the mayor departs.

He has confirmed the decision of which councillor will become mayor will be made in public during a council meeting.

Councillor Gillespie says, "Between now and then I would imagine people might come to a view about what they want to do and don't want to do and if they're going to endorse someone or not endorse someone".

"But, I think, at this stage we're still mulling over what it means and who might put their hand up."

Several councillors did respond directly to Crux, however, with Vincent ward councillor Martin McPherson and Cromwell ward councillor Cheryl Laws both ruling themselves out of the running.

Councillor Gillespie, who works for Contact Energy, also says his availability for the role is limited and it is "unlikely" he will become the next mayor, but a decision will be reached "that's best for the council".

Vincent Ward councillor and community board chair Tamah Alley, who sits on three additional council committees, is understood to have mayoral ambitions.

But she is playing her cards close to her chest, telling Crux she "will let it play out for the 30th (an indicated date for the council decision), when we all have the discussion together".

Left to right, deputy mayor Neil Gillespie, and councillors Tamah Alley and Sarah Browne (Images: Supplied/CODC).

Meanwhile first term councillor Sarah Browne, who at the 2022 elections received the most votes of the Cromwell councillors, says it is "undoubtedly an interesting period for residents and the council alike".

"With two-thirds of the term under our belts now, I feel that the council table is a united team and whilst we are sorry to see our mayor depart before the end of the term, I have every confidence that we will work together to find the most cohesive and appropriate solution to see this term out, complete the LTP and set the next council up for success, whoever may sit around that table come October 2025."

Annual renumeration for the Central Otago District mayor is set at $125,312.

The new mayor will receive the salary and entitlements linked to the role, Mr Kelly says.

Mayor Cadogan is in his third term as mayor, and he says it was not his intention to have a fourth go at it.

He has accepted a new job in Wellington with national water regulator Taumata Arowai.

In recent years as mayor he sat on one of the then Labour government's water services reform working groups.

Main image (Supplied/CODC): The new Central Otago District Council after being sworn in, October 2022.