1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,560 Speaker 1: Well, joining us on the line right now is our 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: final one for this morning, and it is the current sitting. 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 2: Mayor, Marie Brett Howe. Good morning to you. 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie. 5 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: Now we'll get cracking with these questions. Are you ready, Marie? 6 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 3: Absolutely all right. 7 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: Sorry, let me just get my let me just make 8 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: sure I've got the stop watch running properly. 9 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 2: Marie. 10 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: Most people out there listening will know that you are 11 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: the current sitting mayor. But the first question that I 12 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: had for everybody is what job were you in before 13 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: putting your hand up for the election? So maybe even 14 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 1: a bit of your former experience. 15 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 3: Sure, that's great, Katie. Before before I became mayor, I 16 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 3: was the executive manager of a large NT wide not 17 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 3: for profit organization based in early childhood and and so 18 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 3: then prior to that, of course, I had a long 19 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 3: and very successful career in education, both as a teacher 20 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 3: at the university and as a general manager in corporate services. 21 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 2: How long have you lived in the Litchfield Municipality? 22 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 3: Thirty nine years. First came here to work and live 23 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 3: at middle Point and then moved into Humpty Doo to 24 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 3: where we've stayed since then. 25 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: And why did you put your hand up to run 26 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: for the mayor's job. 27 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 3: Well, Katie, I have led a functional council for the 28 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 3: past six years and over this time we've continued to 29 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 3: improve governance, finances, balanced the budget, focused on future planning 30 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 3: and delivered value for money for ratepayers. Our decisions are 31 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 3: always based on evidence and research, but there is lots 32 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 3: more to do. We've built roads and there's more roads. 33 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 3: We've improved reserves. In fact, we've developed a new reserve 34 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 3: at my Square. We've maintained community assets and worked in 35 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 3: partnership with the community. We have the absolute best staff 36 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 3: available who reflect the diversity of our population, and we're 37 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 3: able to get good outcomes and financial efficiencies. We're always 38 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 3: on budget, best quality and on time. 39 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: And what do you see as being the big issues 40 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,239 Speaker 1: in the Lichfield municipality at the moment. 41 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 3: Well, Katie, if you listen to the other candidates, there 42 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 3: are two top issues are the exorbitant rate increases, which 43 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 3: I dispute. Currently Lichfield has the second lowest rate in 44 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 3: the MT, other than Bellwin. This year our raid increases 45 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 3: eighty six cents per week and the rates are set 46 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 3: by all of the councilors under resolution and each year. 47 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 3: The long term financial plan is exactly that. It's a 48 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 3: long term prediction of the needed income and the expenses 49 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 3: into the future. The plan is absolutely essential for good planning, 50 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 3: business development and financial ability, sustainability. 51 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 2: And so sorry you continue, yah, oh. 52 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 3: Well there you know the other things council meetings have 53 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 3: been have been mentioned. They're always open to the public 54 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 3: and always have been. In fact, at the last meeting 55 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 3: there was one person who took the opportunity to talk 56 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 3: to the counselors as advertised on the agenda. There were 57 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 3: seventeen viewed the council meeting online and there were no 58 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:28,959 Speaker 3: public questions. As per the agenda Item nine, residents can 59 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 3: talk to the Mayor, myself, the counselors and office staff 60 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 3: at any time. 61 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: And Marie taking some of those issues that others have raised, 62 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: I guessed into account. But why do you see yourself 63 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: as the best place to work with the community to 64 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: fix the various concerns that people have got. 65 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 3: Well, certainly, Katie, I like to look at challenges and 66 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 3: opportunity challenges and the opportunities and so we have waste 67 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 3: management dogs, the new development at Holt and Kuwandi that 68 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 3: we do need to be very very mindful of and 69 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 3: ensure that it maintains our lifestyle and amenity and push 70 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 3: back any attempts, of course to move it into Parmiston. 71 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 3: And we need to protect our environment. So I guess, 72 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 3: with all of those things in needed and in place 73 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 3: as core business of counsel, I believe I'm the best 74 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 3: person to do the job because I have a positive 75 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 3: and can do respectful attitude. I'm open and connected to 76 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 3: the community, and all my work experience and qualifications have 77 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 3: given me the skills and the ability to lead a council, 78 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 3: connect and partner with community, and to develop those relationships 79 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 3: with government and business. I'm absolutely accountable, and I truly 80 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 3: believe in the value and value Lichfield as a place 81 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 3: and its people. 82 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: Marie, A couple of seconds left. Just finally, why should 83 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: people vote for you? 84 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 3: I think they should vote for me because I am 85 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 3: the most experienced since still candidates, and I will provide 86 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 3: leadership that counts for all parts of our very diverse community. 87 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 3: And I will continue to put my heart and soul 88 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 3: into working for all of the things Lichfield. And I've 89 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 3: said that lots of times, all things Lichfield, putting community 90 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 3: first and advocating where ever is necessary to achieve what's 91 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 3: needed for the community. 92 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: Marie, we have run out of time. Thank you so 93 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: very much for answering those questions. All the best on 94 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: the weekend. 95 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 3: Thank you, Kay, thank you soon. 96 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 1: And now thank you and well. We got through five 97 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: of the candidates. Two of them Peter we sent a 98 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 1: message to but haven't heard back from. And Trevor Jenkins. 99 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 1: If you're out there listening, mate, feel free to get 100 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: in contact with us here at the station. Be more 101 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: than happy to hear you answer those questions.