Stratford mayoral by-election candidate Rusty Kane has returned 82 of the council pamphlets he "borrowed" to leave as calling cards while door-knocking last week.
He's also made a $20 donation to Canteen to cover the 20 he had given away.
Mr Kane says he tried to return the pamphlets to the Information Centre on Friday but the staff refused to deal with him, on instructions from the council's acting chief executive Mike Avery.
"So I took them to Mr Avery today [Tuesday] and he wouldn't accept a compensation payment. It's all been a bit ridiculous really," he said yesterday. "I just wanted to calm things down."
He has also responded to an allegation by his rival Neil Volzke, who said Mr Kane had "claimed as his own" the community outcome objectives published by the council.
"He's saying I stole them and that's not true because these are public statements by the council," Mr Kane said. "I make no apology for promoting Stratford through its own community goals. It's what I will do if I become the next mayor."
Story..By RICHARD WOODD - Taranaki Daily News 28/10/2009.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Promoting Stratford to Stratford lands Kane in hot water
Stratford mayoral election candidate Rusty Kane has had an official rap over the knuckles for what his opponent Neil Volzke calls "gross misuse of council promotional material".
But Mr Kane says he wasn't using signed council tourist pamphlets as calling cards to promote himself as a political candidate.
"It was a perfectly innocent thing, I was just doing it for Stratford," he says.
Mr Kane began his campaign for votes this week.
On Sunday he went to the information centre and was given, at his request, 100 28-page glossy pamphlets paid for by the Stratford ratepayers. He didn't say who he was. They cost $1 each to produce.
On Monday Mr Kane began door-knocking in the town, giving pamphlets to people who answered, and leaving one for those who didn't, signed on the back: "Rusty Kane called" and the date.
Acting Mayor Mr Volzke, in response to people calling him about this, advised the acting chief executive Mike Avery and issued a media statement about his concerns.
"I was less than impressed," he said. "The pamphlets are expensive to produce and are funded by our ratepayers.
"He shouldn't have asked for them, he shouldn't have been given them and he shouldn't have used them the way he did, as a calling card.
"It's council money down the dunny as far as I'm concerned."
He viewed Mr Kane's use of them to promote himself as "a gross misuse of council promotional material. These pamphlets are produced by council to promote the district to tourists and visitors. Instead Rusty Kane has chosen to use them as a calling card during his door-knocking campaign. He should know better".
He raised the matter with acting chief executive Mike Avery, who instructed the information centre not to give any more to Mr Kane. So on Wednesday when Mr Kane asked for more, he was declined.
Mr Avery then had a meeting with Mr Kane and told him it was "totally inappropriate to use council promotional material".
But he says the council won't be billing him for the pamphlets.
Mr Kane said it "sounds like I'm making some traction because people are complaining to my opposition. Mr Avery told me if I wasn't an election candidate it would have been OK. So instead of handing out a pamphlet I can instead show it and tell people where they can get one. I'm standing for democracy. It means instead of Neil Volzke being elected unopposed, people actually get to vote for him. I'm doing him a favour.
"I don't really expect to win, but I hope to get 50 per cent of the votes. I think I'll give him a fright anyway. Welcome to Kane County.
But Mr Kane says he wasn't using signed council tourist pamphlets as calling cards to promote himself as a political candidate.
"It was a perfectly innocent thing, I was just doing it for Stratford," he says.
Mr Kane began his campaign for votes this week.
On Sunday he went to the information centre and was given, at his request, 100 28-page glossy pamphlets paid for by the Stratford ratepayers. He didn't say who he was. They cost $1 each to produce.
On Monday Mr Kane began door-knocking in the town, giving pamphlets to people who answered, and leaving one for those who didn't, signed on the back: "Rusty Kane called" and the date.
Acting Mayor Mr Volzke, in response to people calling him about this, advised the acting chief executive Mike Avery and issued a media statement about his concerns.
"I was less than impressed," he said. "The pamphlets are expensive to produce and are funded by our ratepayers.
"He shouldn't have asked for them, he shouldn't have been given them and he shouldn't have used them the way he did, as a calling card.
"It's council money down the dunny as far as I'm concerned."
He viewed Mr Kane's use of them to promote himself as "a gross misuse of council promotional material. These pamphlets are produced by council to promote the district to tourists and visitors. Instead Rusty Kane has chosen to use them as a calling card during his door-knocking campaign. He should know better".
He raised the matter with acting chief executive Mike Avery, who instructed the information centre not to give any more to Mr Kane. So on Wednesday when Mr Kane asked for more, he was declined.
Mr Avery then had a meeting with Mr Kane and told him it was "totally inappropriate to use council promotional material".
But he says the council won't be billing him for the pamphlets.
Mr Kane said it "sounds like I'm making some traction because people are complaining to my opposition. Mr Avery told me if I wasn't an election candidate it would have been OK. So instead of handing out a pamphlet I can instead show it and tell people where they can get one. I'm standing for democracy. It means instead of Neil Volzke being elected unopposed, people actually get to vote for him. I'm doing him a favour.
"I don't really expect to win, but I hope to get 50 per cent of the votes. I think I'll give him a fright anyway. Welcome to Kane County.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Three Questions for Rusty Kane.
Stratford Press.
1. What do you think are the best assets of the Stratford District and how should they be promoted?
Rusty Kane Candidate for Mayor of Stratford District.
Farming is the Stratford District main asset followed by tourism. Yet not many outside Stratford know of the district many outdoor natural attractions. Mountain National Parks Gardens Heritage trails and walkways. Or of Stratford's world class community facilities modern art gallery indoor heated swimming pool complex and multi-sports center. The Stratford District has something for everybody of all ages and activity levels. From golf skiing snow boarding tramping canoing car and horse racing to bird watching and sightseeing. Stratford is one of New Zealand's special places but that fact is not widely known. If elected as your Mayor I will encourage families businesses and tourists alike, to come visit live work or play in the district, by promoting the districts many attractions to other regions. Stratford's other main asset I believe is its people their great culture and attitude . If elected I intend to enhance this community spirit and sense of rural pride, by focusing on the districts farmers the primary source of the district economy. With the central business sector and councillors blessing I propose to declare a Farmers Day every Thursday in the Stratford township. A symbolic day dedicated to farmers of the district. To show that the Stratford township cares respect and appreciate the industry its input and consumer loyalty. I would also encourage Stratford businesses to take advantage of the day by promoting farmer specials and discounts. This day will identify Stratford as the reason farmers come to town. And make farmers feel more at home in their own local town environment and discourage farmers from taking their business to other towns out of the district. Costing them more in fuel and parking costs. It will also put more money in to the pockets of the local business sector and encourage more growth and town vitality at no extra cost to the ratepayers. With this growth and vitality the Stratford district can then be more proactive in encouraging more Tourists and visitor numbers to come see visit and discover the districts many other attractions. This will in turn entice more people to come work and live in the district.
Stratford Press.
2. What do you think is most lacking in the District and how can that be remedied?
Rusty Kane Candidate for Mayor of Stratford District.
I believe a clear identity and focus is whats most lacking in the district.
For an identity I propose to promote Stratford as the central gateway and agricultural capital of Taranaki.
For the focus I propose farmers and all things agricultural and Tourism.
Focusing on these two core economic areas of farming and tourism and creating a strong agricultural identity for the town. I believe is the remedy to the districts future success.
Stratford Press.
3. What do think is the long term future of smaller district councils like Stratford?
Rusty Kane Candidate for Mayor of Stratford District.
National trends suggest that smaller district councils like the Stratford District Council will eventually amalgamate into larger district councils. As have Waitara Inglewood into New Plymouth District Council and Patea Opunake into the South Taranaki District Council. Smaller districts lose their local community identity and focus and take on the identity of the larger town. ie: New Plymouth's identity and focus. Waitara for instance maintains a community board to represent local issues and two councillors representing their area on the NPDC. But as Waitara and Waitara councillors have found when lobbing for their own Waitara issues at the NPDC. They find with only two councillors their own issues are often out voted or overridden by the majority New Plymouth councillors. Yet are expected to pay the same higher rates as New Plymouth to help pay for New Plymouth's wish list extravagances. For this reason if elected I would not recommend that Stratford District amalgamate with a larger council unless the advantages far out weighed the disadvantages for the Stratford District and its ratepayers.
1. What do you think are the best assets of the Stratford District and how should they be promoted?
Rusty Kane Candidate for Mayor of Stratford District.
Farming is the Stratford District main asset followed by tourism. Yet not many outside Stratford know of the district many outdoor natural attractions. Mountain National Parks Gardens Heritage trails and walkways. Or of Stratford's world class community facilities modern art gallery indoor heated swimming pool complex and multi-sports center. The Stratford District has something for everybody of all ages and activity levels. From golf skiing snow boarding tramping canoing car and horse racing to bird watching and sightseeing. Stratford is one of New Zealand's special places but that fact is not widely known. If elected as your Mayor I will encourage families businesses and tourists alike, to come visit live work or play in the district, by promoting the districts many attractions to other regions. Stratford's other main asset I believe is its people their great culture and attitude . If elected I intend to enhance this community spirit and sense of rural pride, by focusing on the districts farmers the primary source of the district economy. With the central business sector and councillors blessing I propose to declare a Farmers Day every Thursday in the Stratford township. A symbolic day dedicated to farmers of the district. To show that the Stratford township cares respect and appreciate the industry its input and consumer loyalty. I would also encourage Stratford businesses to take advantage of the day by promoting farmer specials and discounts. This day will identify Stratford as the reason farmers come to town. And make farmers feel more at home in their own local town environment and discourage farmers from taking their business to other towns out of the district. Costing them more in fuel and parking costs. It will also put more money in to the pockets of the local business sector and encourage more growth and town vitality at no extra cost to the ratepayers. With this growth and vitality the Stratford district can then be more proactive in encouraging more Tourists and visitor numbers to come see visit and discover the districts many other attractions. This will in turn entice more people to come work and live in the district.
Stratford Press.
2. What do you think is most lacking in the District and how can that be remedied?
Rusty Kane Candidate for Mayor of Stratford District.
I believe a clear identity and focus is whats most lacking in the district.
For an identity I propose to promote Stratford as the central gateway and agricultural capital of Taranaki.
For the focus I propose farmers and all things agricultural and Tourism.
Focusing on these two core economic areas of farming and tourism and creating a strong agricultural identity for the town. I believe is the remedy to the districts future success.
Stratford Press.
3. What do think is the long term future of smaller district councils like Stratford?
Rusty Kane Candidate for Mayor of Stratford District.
National trends suggest that smaller district councils like the Stratford District Council will eventually amalgamate into larger district councils. As have Waitara Inglewood into New Plymouth District Council and Patea Opunake into the South Taranaki District Council. Smaller districts lose their local community identity and focus and take on the identity of the larger town. ie: New Plymouth's identity and focus. Waitara for instance maintains a community board to represent local issues and two councillors representing their area on the NPDC. But as Waitara and Waitara councillors have found when lobbing for their own Waitara issues at the NPDC. They find with only two councillors their own issues are often out voted or overridden by the majority New Plymouth councillors. Yet are expected to pay the same higher rates as New Plymouth to help pay for New Plymouth's wish list extravagances. For this reason if elected I would not recommend that Stratford District amalgamate with a larger council unless the advantages far out weighed the disadvantages for the Stratford District and its ratepayers.
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