Leadership that puts Invercargill First
"It's about people"
“There's power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. There's grace in being willing to know and hear others”
Michele Obama
In this environment it’s important that we do all we can to convert the opportunities we have to diversify and strengthen our economic performance.
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Take Part in Changing Our City Leadership
When we work together, change happens. Find out how you can get involved and start making a difference. Your support is important and valuable to Ria Bond in her campaign for Mayor and Council of Invercargill. You can decide how to help Ria in her political efforts for Leadership change. Whether you would like to volunteer your time, or make a monetary donation, every little bit that you dedicate helps Ria tremendously.
Putting My Experience to Work for you.
Leadership that puts Invercargill First
Our elected members have an enormous influence on how things run in our city, what projects are given priority, and where investments go. Who you elect as your city Leadership team will be vital to Invercargill and Bluffs future wellbeing.
We need to ensure we have a strong economy, this means our economy must be productive, sustainable, and inclusive. As a council we need to deliver on these values. We have to tackle the long-term challenges our city economy will face now and in our future. We have to be attractive to skilled migrants and provide decent jobs, higher incomes, and opportunities for not just our current, but future generations to keep our families working, living and prosper together. Equally, we need to understand that the health and wellbeing of our people is paramount to our city and the success of our people that move within us.
COVID should not be the culprit for under preforming and be the catalyst for the raise of rates. We know a recessionary period is expected for the first five years of the Long Term Plan and longer-term structural changes to the economy beyond this time need to be planned for.
The mayor is responsible for policies, budgets, promoting our community, to represent its people, to exemplify strong, reliable leadership. Councillors are responsible for understanding and implementing principles of good governance in decision making, not get involved in operational matters, to maintain respect. Our people deserve a council that can deliver, represent their interests' and leave personal opinions at home.
To be a leader you have to have experienced the ups with the downs within the business world, you have to have lead a team to achieve their goals. Effective communication skills are really crucial when you structure up behind legislation to change peoples livelihoods. You have to be accountable for those decisions. Not pass the buck when the going gets tough. The mayor needs the courage to make unpopular decisions, and most importantly the mayor needs the team of their community to help form and secure all our futures.
Invercargill is on the cusp of something special. We need leadership that puts Invercargill first. My success as Mayor requires my community to have a bold communal effort to vote for me. I have the wisdom and leadership experience to put Invercargill first.
I am not a celebrity, I am not a former or current deputy mayor, I have never been on the council. I am a community Leader first, that may make me a celebrity in the future but i don't seek it out.
I do, what I do for people first.
That leader for your Mayor is me. Please vote Bond4Mayor when you receive your voting papers.
Your Mayor needs to walk amongst people, but above people.
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