It’s officially a three-horse race for the Central Otago mayoralty - the first contest for the district’s top job in six years.  

Late last week, Charlie Sanders confirmed he would join sitting mayor Tamah Alley and Mark Quinn - the man behind grassroots activist group Challenging Councils - on the ballot. 

A born-and-bred Cromwell local, Charlie said his grandfather once served as mayor of the town and helped develop the Roaring Meg power scheme. 

He told The Central App he began his own career in the family butchery business before shifting into engineering, including a long stint at Shotover Engineering in Queenstown. 

Later, he supported his wife’s Cromwell-based cleaning business before retiring. 

Charlie said rates increases, housing unaffordability, and a lack of transparency are top concerns.  

He believes Central Otago needs leadership that listens and acts “in plain sight”. 

“The will of the people should outweigh the whims of the elected." 

He said members of the public he spoke to were increasingly disillusioned with council consultation. 

“A lot of the time when you're asked to make a submission, the minds are made up and it's just lip service. 

“I think it’s reflected in how many people respond. 

"I want to see that change.” 

Charlie welcomed the strong turnout of nominations across the district, with all positions well contested - including the mayoralty. 

“I don’t know Tamah Alley,” he said, “but for democracy to work, she has to have someone to stand against.” 

In a first public statement delivered on Facebook, Charlie said he had no party affiliation or “hidden agenda”.

“Just a genuine commitment to the people of Cromwell and the wider Central Otago district. I’m standing to give our community a strong voice. A voice that listens. A voice that acts. A voice that delivers.”

Nominations for local government elections closed midday on Friday, with postal voting set to begin in approximately six weeks. 

Voting will close at midday on October 11. 

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