Lack of change irritates Hamilton student
Jayden Conceicao was ready to vote in this year’s local body election but but did not bother.
Student Jayden Conceicao, 22, had planned on voting in this year’s local body election but when it came time to fill out his voting papers he could not be bothered.
“I had a feeling Julie (Hardaker) would win again and couldn’t be bothered (voting).”
Conceicao backed mayoral contender Ewan Wilson.
He wanted to see a complete change in the Hamilton City Council, a different mayor and councillors.
Conceicao said he does not have a problem with Hardaker being the mayor of Hamilton but thought Wilson could do a better job.
“She hasn’t done a bad job of being mayor but she hasn’t done a good job either.”
He said he saw Wilson as the lesser of two evils and was disappointed that Wilson did not have enough support.
“I think we needed a big clean-out (of councillors) and had the feeling we weren’t going to get that.”
He also said he lost interest in the Hamilton election, partly because he does not think he will be living in Hamilton much longer so the big issues, such as water meters, are not relevant to him.
Before the election Conceicao spoke passionately about local body elections.
He was hoping the new council would be proactive in connecting with the people of Hamilton.
He said the lack of connection with council and his age group made him stop caring.
“There is no emotional connection; people aren’t invested in the council which is a bit sad, I mean they are making decisions on how they are running Hamilton,” Conceicao said before the election.
