It took over a decade, four attempts including a last minute 2022 loss, plenty of fuel moving his campaign signs around and telling people it would be his final attempt.
But Cyril Dawson is finally comfortable at the Marlborough District Council table.
The Blenheim Ward councillor, voted into office in second place during the local body elections, says that finally achieving election after living in Marlborough for 55 years was “incredibly humbling”.
Now, three months since being voted in, and handed the portfolios of Refuse, Recycling and Resource Recovery, and Sporting and Community Facilities, alongside his Blenheim Ward role, Cyril says the scale of council operations surprised him.
“The day-to-day running of this province is incredible and very much eye opening because we can be people out here looking in, but once I was elected, and seen what goes on in Council to run this province, it’s opened my eyes. The thing I was most impressed with was the landfill, amazing to see `how much rubbish from around this province goes into it, and how they are sorting it out over the next 20 years.
“The incumbents made us feel welcome and the staff have been brilliant; we can have a laugh - out of the office Brian Dawson and I call each other ‘cuz’ - but the business still gets done.
“And the amount of people that have got jobs to do at the Council, they do them, and it gets things done. Why do we live here? Because you love the place, so do all these people, and they make it happen”.
Between his continually growing praise for staff, fellow councillors, and the Mayor over his first few months, Cyril maintains Council needs to balance essential projects with affordability but knows rate rises are a major concern for many.
“A lot of people have said, ‘about time you’re in there for us – just the normal rate-paying person speaking in layman’s terms. I don’t use big terminology. That’s what I’ve done all my life.
“We’ve got big projects like the recycling centre rebuild, the A&P showgrounds building, and stop banks, a much-needed refresh of the town centre and having just finishing the Sounds roads – I’m also still championing Eltham Road getting fixed - but we can’t rush in and do everything at once.
“Rates have gone up just over 10 percent for the last three years. People can’t afford that. If we can keep rates down to 6 percent tops, it’ll go a long way to still have money for projects without being a big burden.”
“For me, getting in shows anyone can run for council. It just takes enthusiasm and ideas. I’m getting my point across in meetings – that’s why I’m here, and it’s a pleasure to represent the people of Blenheim Ward.”
