ASHBURTON GUARDIAN
Ashburton businessman Jeff Swindley is running for mayor.
An Ashburton businessman will challenge incumbent Neil Brown for the Ashburton mayoralty.
Jeff Swindley, who owns the Bald Barber in Ashburton, has entered the race to be Ashburton mayor, while another well-known businessman, Tony Todd, is running for a seat on the Ashburton District Council.
Swindley declined the opportunity to comment on his nomination.
Todd, a retired businessman, unsuccessfully ran for the mayoralty in 2019, finishing with the second-highest number of votes behind Brown.
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This time around he is only running to be a councillor in the Ashburton Ward.
“I still have something to contribute so decided to throw my hat in the ring,” Todd said.
He has previously served 30 years on the former Ashburton Licensing Trust, including 12 as chairman.
Supplied
Ashburton businessman Tony Todd is running for a seat on the Ashburton District Council.
Todd’s nominations in the Ashburton Ward mean that, with under a week until nominations close, all the vacancies will at least be filled on the council.
With sitting councillor Carolyn Cameron still to file her nomination in the Ashburton Ward, and reports of others considering standing, there will be an election for at least one ward as well as the mayoral race.
Nominations have been slow for the Methven Community Board with only Kelvin Holmes putting his hand up for another term so far with the potential of a by-election looming large.
For the Braided River Community Trust there are five names in the mix, all men, for the six vacancies.
Jonathan Leask/LDR
Incumbent Ashburton mayor Neil Brown is running for a second term.
Where they stand
Nominations received (as of 2pm Friday):
Mayor: Neil Brown, Jeff Swindley.
Western Ward (2): Rodger Letham, Liz McMillan.
Eastern Ward (2): Lynette Lovett, Richard Wilson.
Ashburton ward (5): Russell Ellis, Leen Braam, Hayden Tasker, Bev Skates, Tony Todd.
Intending to stand: Carolyn Cameron.
Undecided: John Falloon
Ruled out: Stuart Wilson, Angus McKay, Dianne Rawlinson.
Methven Community Board (5): Kelvin Holmes
Braided River Community Trust (6): Tim Silva, Chris Robertson, Robert Harnett, Kerry Clough, Kieran Breakwell.
