More Mayoral weirdness in Horowhenua

The Herald reports:

It has emerged a local woman has been writing and signing off emails as a district mayor.

Several Horowhenua District councillors spoke at a full council meeting on Wednesday about the need for an investigation into the allegation.

NZME understands the allegations to refer to local woman Christine Toms, although she wasn’t named in the meeting.

Toms has been openly acting in an advocacy role for mayor Michael Feyen. …

Media at the meeting were offered a copy of an email from Toms’ email address, which was sent to mayor Michael Feyen, with HDC chief executive David Clapperton copied in.

It was written as if from the mayor, and queried the qualifications held by Group Manager Infrastructure Services Gallo Saidy, who is acting chief executive while Clapperton is on leave.

Tukapua said the writing and signing off on emails as the mayor was “straight up unlawful”.

“It damages democracy, and it seriously damages confidence and good governance,” Tukapua said.

In an earlier statement, Feyen said Toms had never been paid by HDC “in any form”. He said his mayoral office set-up was “separate from the executive and administration”.

“I can have anyone I think appropriate to work for me,” he said.

“Paid or unpaid, and that includes Christine Toms as my current advocate.”

I guess the Mayor can have someone write his e-mails for him, but it does make you wonder who really is in charge.

Toms is believed to have invoiced HDC for her services as advocate and the invoice was ignored.

As it should be, unless her contract was approved by the Council.