Pro-1080 candidate tries for council

Kawhaka farmer and Tb Free West Coast committee member Kees van Beek has spiced up the Westland District Council elections by standing on a pro-1080 ticket.
He was nominated by Ron Monk and Peter McDonnell.
Mr van Beek said yesterday the 1080 issue was just one of several that he would be campaigning for.
“I believe there is a vacancy there as (Kumara councillor) Allan Payne will not be standing again,” Mr van Beek said.
“I think I have a lot to offer. I have been involved in several different bodies that has given me the experience to make a contribution to the wealth of the district. I have a reasonable attitude to how things should be done and hopefully I can bring some common sense to proceedings.”
Although he did not believe there was disharmony within the council ranks, as some had suggested, he did warn that he was concerned with the approach taken on 1080.
“I am concerned with the direction the council seems to be going. It doesn’t bode very well for our efforts to control (bovine) Tb in Westland.”
As a dry stock farmer, and member of the Federated Farmers meat and fibre producers committee on the West Coast, he could also represent beef and sheep farmers who had so far been overlooked in favour of the district’s dairy farmers.
The 64-year-old married father of four moved to the West Coast from Rangiora, but has been a dry stock farmer at Kawhaka, in the Arahura Valley, since 1970.
Mr Van Beek has already got the backing of Tb Free West Coast chairwoman Helen Lash, who said she felt he would make a good addition to the council.
“He has a good understanding of the infrastructural needs of council and a good idea of the direction the council is lacking, and he is a good communicator with the public,” Mrs Lash said.