Race for city’s top job is on

1
1744

Nelson mayor Aldo Miccio has joined the race for the city’s top job.
Aldo announced his decision to re-stand on Friday citing unfinished business. He will battle for the position with current councillor and former deputy mayor Rachel Reese and former police chief Brian McGurk, both of whom have already announced their intention to stand.
Whispers around city hall indicate few other campaigns will take on the current contenders but councillor Ian Barker earlier this year told the Nelson Weekly he was leaving the possibility of the running open.
Last week Brian stated that he would keep rates at less than 1 per cent in his first year as mayor and has previously said rates affordability was a key goal he wanted to achieve. As the only non-serving member of the three candidates he has the most ground to make up but he has a high profile as the former area commander for Nelson Bays Police and is already staking his claim as the “rates affordability” candidate.
Rachel says Nelson people are looking for a “positive change maker” and that people are over the “spin and hype”.
“[People] want a council and mayor who understand how to govern the city effectively on a “no surprises” basis. Nelson people are looking for a mayor and council that works with them not against them. They are looking for a council that creates opportunities for people to be successful, whether that is as a community volunteer, student or business person.”
Aldo said in a statement that he’s excited about the opportunity to re-stand and is hoping his record on low rate increases and his passion for the city will see him win another term.
“I originally pledged my passion for Nelson to the people of Nelson. It is this passion, commitment, enthusiasm and leadership that will ensure our city continues to develop and achieve its goals,” he says.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, but the bricks that have been laid over the past three years show significant progress.”
Six of the 12 current councillors have publically backed Aldo for re-election in an advertising campaign, an indication, he says, that councillors support what he’s doing for the city.