Why?.... because they have the most or biggest roadside signs?  Because they promise what you want to hear?  How do you know what they will do if elected?  These are all tough questions.

The single most accurate predictor of future behavior is past behaviour.  What have candidates promised in the past versus what they have actually done?  If you care about the future of Whangarei and Northland the only way to vote sensibly is to consider the following:

People behave the way they do because of what they believe is right.  Where do those beliefs come from?  They come from the values that are instilled in people and which are the true sources that drive behavior.  Sadly, too many of our politicians or would-be politicians subscribe to three very negative values that are ruining our ecology, economy, and disrupting society by causing a deeper divide among the “haves” and the “have-nots”.... those three values are
$ Focus on short term gains over long term sustainabilities
$ Putting self ahead of community
$ Subscribing to a ‘means justifies the ends’ mentality

These three “values” are at the very heart of bad decisions for any community and the very antithesis of what should be the focus of honorable leaders.

Therefore, in making your decisions in the coming elections, focus on values, not empty promises.  Seek information about candidates’ past decisions and behaviours.  We need leaders who are capable and willing to:
$ Focus on long term good rather than getting elected
$ Put the community ahead of personal desires and make hard decisions even if not popular
$ Recognise that HOW you do things is as important as the outcomes achieved as leaders set the moral compass for future generations and precedents.

Sadly many of our want-to-be political leaders don’t even recognise or lie to themselves about why they do what they do.  It is up to you, the voters, to separate the trees from the forest and recognise those that stand tall and true.  It is nonsense to believe we are keeping rates down by selling off our assets for short term gain; in the long run we will still have to maintain and build new infrastructure.  It is nonsense to preach concern for the local economy and then award major contracts to organisations outside of Northland when such expenditures turn over about seven times in a single year creating economic health for the other community rather than Northland. It is nonsense to tell the community their input is heard and valued when decisions have already been made and secret actions already taken to implement such (Sale of Old Boys, new harbour bridge, the attempt to restructure local government to unitary authority).

No, don’t vote on cheap talk and theatrics; vote on values.

Dr. Richard A. Engdahl, Tamaterau