Alexandra Davids receives high praise by Mayor as People’s Choices tries to oust her

Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board Chairwoman Alexandra Davids has received high praise by Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel as People’s Choice tries to oust her.

Elected members of the Labour affiliated group wrote to Christchurch City Council Chief Executive Dawn Baxendale two weeks ago wanting to remove her.

It follows the recent by-election, which resulted in People’s Choice candidate Sunita Gautam being elected with 958 votes.

Davids was deputy chairwoman of the board before being elected by the board to replace the late Sally Buck in April.

Davids sits on Local Government New Zealand’s Young Elected Members Committee.

Lianne Dalziel told Chris Lynch she has known Alexandra Davids for number of years.

“She has devoted her time to keep Christchurch beautiful and has organised award ceremonies, which I have tried to attend because of her commitment to what they mean for the community.”

Dalziel said “she’s an outstanding person.”

“I know that Sally Buck who was the previous chair, was very supportive of Alexandra taking up the role as Chair when she had to step back, and ultimately resign from the Board.”

“There is nothing but praise for the extraordinary person that Alexander is.”

Last week People’s Choice Councillor Jake McLellan said “there has been a Community Board by-election recently which has changed the composition of the Board and as such it’s appropriate that the Board discuss leadership in light of this change.”

Left leaning University of Canterbury Professor Bronwyn Hayward criticised the actions of People’s Choice.

She told Radio New Zealand “at local council levels, people liked electing problem solvers who aren't political.”

"[People want members to] provide the recycling, fix the potholes, compromise with neighbours. They're not really looking for grand political arguments, they're looking for collaborative problem solving," Professor Hayward said.

"So every time you see an issue like bickering in a local community board which is really the lowest and most practical level of government, I think it does have a chilling effect on putting people off participating, putting their hand up and getting involved. It just looks really unpleasant and like something you wouldn't want to be involved with."

People's Choice told RNZ they probably think this is in their interest to push this issue, if I was giving them some professional advice I would be very cautious.

"I think it is much more constructive to come across as problem solvers who are collaborative and open to new ideas no matter where they come from and to think about whether or not these are in the best interests of the local community, [rather] than get into ideological debates at your local neighbourhood level."