Guru has sent councilors an e-mail asking for 5 qualities they would like to see in the new council Chief Executive.
Here is our list of 20 qualities that Guru and the councilors should ascertain and expect:
- honest: does not tell lies, or pay others to tell lies
- accountable: to the council and the public; no secrecy of any kind
- will not award contracts and positions to mates just because they are mates
- hard-working
- astute
- will admit mistakes and carry responsibility for them
- of temperate disposition
- not interested in personal prestige
- wants high operational efficiency
- has people skills: knows how to get the best out of people and eliminate the bad
- knows the art of diplomacy
- wants good value for ratepayers
- will listen to the people and heed what they have to say
- believes in real communication, not propaganda
- is alert to technological changes, but monitors them before deciding on them
- will not run off to overpriced, self-serving consultants at every opportunity
- accepts that the council is there to provide public services, not build an empire
- wants a workplace that both employees and councilors can be proud of, not embarrassed about
- knows how to balance the conflicting interests of communities and developers
- wants a beautiful, environmentally-minded and harmonious Kapiti
It goes without saying that they are qualities the Mayor should show, too.