Your Letters: No gang; Dumbfounded

Southgate: 'I'm not part of a gang'

Trading in insults, assumptions and personality politics is not my game.

I prefer to focus on the key issues facing our region, such as freshwater management and positive projects like the Hamilton Halo project.

I refute the idea I am part of any political "gang" or "posse" and routinely block vote with the majority.

The only block voting that occurs is when the Rates Control Team votes against a plan or project. That leaves eight people voting differently.

Councillors should weigh up every issue on its merits and this I always do. Part of the democratic process is to argue your case. But when decisions are made (sometimes as you hoped and sometimes not) you accept that.

It would be great to see more people attending council. Then they could see the quality of the debate and how individuals reach decisions.

For the record, I was unable to vote on the velodrome project as I was on leave and did not attend the hearings on the case. It was a decision of the majority. But who wants it to fail now?

I cannot waste time undermining council but have to focus on other issues that matter - protecting our coasts and maintaining public transport.

- Paula Southgate, Waikato Regional Councillor

Dumbfounded

I don't understand why some members of the Hennebry family/Rates Control Group are still giving misleading information.

No matter how many letters to the editors of local newspapers are sent it will not change. Waikato councillor Paula Southgate did not vote for the velodrome.

- L Beeching