Just weeks after stepping down from her senior role at Central Otago District Council, Louise van der Voort is now seeking a seat around the council table.

Louise, who recently vacated the role of planning and infrastructure group manager, is standing for election in the Vincent Ward in the upcoming local body elections.

A council spokesperson confirmed to The Central App Louise finished up on June 27, after 34 years with the organisation - 11 of those in the executive leadership team.

“Her service to the community was acknowledged by the mayor and councillors at the June 24 meeting, just prior to her departure,” the spokesperson said.

Council has a policy to guide staff considering making the switch from management to governance.

“If a staff member stands and they get elected, they would be required to resign from their position,” the spokesperson said.

As for Louise’s candidacy, the spokesperson said it would not be appropriate for council to comment on any individual standing for office.

Speaking to The Central App on Tuesday, Louise said she had been thinking about next steps in her career for a while, confirming she was “not quite ready for retirement”.

Throughout her career she had worked in many areas of council at an executive level and successfully led major projects with significant budgets involving collaboration with the community, she said.

“Council is a complex business and understanding the business will enable me to tackle those big issues and actively contribute to decision making that supports the community.”

She acknowledges some may see her long service as making her too close to the system but believes her experience is what’s needed around the decision-making table. 

“I see my institutional knowledge as a strength because understanding the complex issues facing council and the community is essential for good decision-making,” she said.

In the past year, Louise spent approximately five months on secondment to Waitaki District Council assisting in an interim director's role in a council undertaking transformational change. 

“I'm really committed to local government and Central Otago communities so standing for council seems to be a logical step, and a way to use my experience and skills to add value to council.

“Given the scale and speed of government reform, council will have difficult decisions to make around affordability and delivery of services.”

Louise’s former role at the council was initially filled on an interim basis by infrastructure manager Quinton Pennial. Planning manager Fiona Garrett has since stepped into the acting position, while recruitment for a permanent replacement is underway.

All Central Otago District Council seats will be contested at the elections, with a three-way race for the mayoralty and a strong field of fresh contenders across the wards.

Mayoral hopefuls Tamah Alley, Mark Quinn, and Charlie Sanders have each put their names forward for the district’s top job, while 17 non-incumbent candidates are vying for a seat around the council table across the Cromwell, Vincent, Maniototo, and Teviot Valley wards.

Read more: Grandson of former mayor makes bid for top seat Mark Quinn to take on Tamah as Central’s mayor Tamah Alley running for mayor

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