Russell Ellis has been sworn in as an Ashburton District councillor for a fourth time, in a fourth building, and under a fourth mayor last Wednesday.
Ellis was first elected in 2013, with the councillors based in the old chambers on the top floor of the old council building at Baring Square West when Angus McKay was mayor.
After the 2016 election for his second term, the council was based out of the old county council building and Donna Favel was the new mayor.
Ellis infamously missed out on standing for his seat on the council in 2019 after a technicality in his nomination form.
It was discovered one of his nominators no longer lived in the Ashburton Ward after nominations had closed, making his nomination invalid.
Ellis was re-elected in 2022 for a third term, sworn in at the relocatable chambers out the back of the old administration building for what was Neil Brown’s second term as mayor.
This time around, the swearing-in was in Hine Paaka, the council chamber inside Te Whare Whakatere, which stands on the site of the former county council building, with new mayor Liz McMillan.
“It’s quite bizarre,” Ellis said.
“If there is to be a fifth time, I highly doubt there will be a fifth building.”
McMillan officially donned the mayoral chains after reading and signing the declaration to be sworn in, followed by the nine councillors and five Methven Community Board members.
McMillan delivered a short speech, opening with how she is humbled and honoured to be the new mayor.
“When I first stood for the Methven Community Board in 2007, I never imagined it would lead to this.”
She said the campaign period “felt very long this time around”.
To her councillors, she encouraged them to make this term “not just about governance, but about genuine connections”.
“Being visible and out in the community is all part of our role”.
McMillan acknowledged big projects to address, the Ashburton second bridge road and the next steps of the three waters reforms, as well as central Government reforms that “will bring a number of changes to how we operate”.
“There will be some challenges, but our goal will always be to have an Ashburton District we are proud to call home and a welcoming place for those who choose to work and visit here.”
The only business conducted at the first meeting was naming Cr Richard Wilson as deputy mayor, presenting a certificate of service to former Cr Rob Mackle, and adopting a meeting schedule for the remainder of the year.
The council will meet again on November 5.
