	Central Lakes Trust extended candidate profile
	Ten years ago the existence of the Central Lakes Trust was in the balance. A local law firm and a minority of citizens wanted the assets of the old Central Electric Power Board distributed to its customers, a one-off windfall that would soon have been forgotten. The alternative - a trust fund in perpetuity - seemed so much the better choice. I supported it, around the council table and out in the community, as did many others. The CLT was established, and our decision has been vindicated. The CLT is an enormous force for good in our communities. Applied wisely, its funding enriches our lives, supports our worthy causes, and reinforces successful communities. But there's scope for innovation, and for greater investment in social infrastructure. With more than two decades of hands-on experience in what makes Central Otago tick, I believe I can add value to the work of the trust. We are fortunate, here in the South of New Zealand, to have community funders like the CLT - able to make our dreams real, and to enable ambitious projects that benefit all of us. So you'd think, wouldn't you, that the operation of the trust would be transparent, and that the trustees would account publicly for their decisions. Million-dollar allocations of cash, the potential to affect how we all live our lives. We should at least be able to see how those very important decisions are made. In local government, in the district health board, in our schools and in our myriad of other community organisations, decision-making is visible, and the people making the decision are accountable. But not in the CLT. I believe that should change. If elected, I will be advocating for greater consultation, better visibility, and a much more public accounting for how decisions are made. The published profile is restricted to 150 words This version is longer, and it expands on the themes of the short version