Hamilton is a city with heart. But for too long, its Council has operated behind closed doors, its debt has quietly ballooned, and its infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the needs of its people. That’s why a group of committed locals, business leaders, community builders, and everyday ratepayers, with a wide range of skills have come together under the banner of Hamilton’s Better Candidates.

https://hamilton-better-candidates.webflow.io/

Contrary to many thoughts, we came together by chance more than plan, but we found we aligned reasonably quickly in the outcomes we wanted to deliver. All different and all independent. We are not going agree all the time on every issue, which is exactly what a council needs. We need healthy debate and robust criticism of a range of alternative approaches, between people who agree on the outcomes which will benefit Hamilton City.

We’re not here to play politics, but it does get political. We’re here to serve the community. To listen and to act, with a view to rebuilding the mutual respect that should exist between City Council and the wider community in Hamilton.

Why We’re Standing

We’re standing because Hamilton deserves better outcomes, especially in the finance and infrastructure developments that we are seeing. Questions need answers before we get to paying more and expanding recklessly. Council needs to respect the people who are funding them through rates and other charges.

We’ve seen the numbers. The debt is rising. Interest costs are climbing. And the figures don’t always match from one report to the next. That’s not good enough. Councillors must not only understand the financial reality, but they must also explain it clearly to the public which means getting all the details first and then making decisions. No more confusion and mixed information, just facts, that are the same and open to view.

We’ve also seen development slow down. Whether it’s the economic climate, contribution costs, inadequate infrastructure, or red tape, the result is the same: housing and infrastructure aren’t keeping up with demand. That’s a problem we intend to tackle head-on and encourage developers back to our City.

We’ve challenged the current Council, not out of spite, but out of necessity. Some projects have been done well. However, too many projects should have been done better, with less cost and more genuine community consultation. That’s why we’re promoting a very visible council. One that doesn’t hide behind jargon or closed-door decisions. One that invites scrutiny, welcomes feedback, and earns trust.

What We’ll Bring to Council

• Transparency of Voting: Every vote should be recorded and visible. Ratepayers deserve to know how their representatives are voting and why?
• Community Engagement: Regular meetings with residents, both as a group and through local ward councillors, will be a cornerstone of our approach.
• Visible Procurement: Contracts and spending decisions must be open to scrutiny. We’ll push for clear, public reporting on who gets what, and how.
• CCO Accountability: Council-Controlled Organisations must serve the city, not operate in silos. We’ll demand performance, transparency, and alignment with community priorities.
• Debt Management: We’ll tackle the ballooning debt with discipline and honesty, starting with a full breakdown of what we owe, what it costs, and how we’ll fix it as the City grows.

What We Won’t Do!

We won’t cut the basics. Libraries, pools, community centres, bus stops, and paths. These are not luxuries, they’re lifelines. We’ll protect and improve them, not put them on the chopping block, they need expanding and supporting.

We won’t chase shiny projects while potholes go unfilled. Our focus is on the essentials: infrastructure, safety, services, and fiscal responsibility.

What We’ll Start With

From day one, we’ll push for:

• A public dashboard of council spending and debt.
• Recording the votes of Councillors on all decisions and making that information readily available to the public.
• A schedule of community meetings across the City.
• A review of procurement processes and CCO performance.
• A plain-English budget summary for every household.

A Change in Hamilton Starts Here

Our single objective is simple: to make Hamilton a better place to live for every ratepayer and resident. That means restoring trust, cutting through red tape, and making sure the basics are done right.

We’re not just candidates. We’re ratepayers, parents, volunteers, and neighbours. We know what it feels like to be left out of the loop. We know what it means to stretch a budget. And we know that Hamilton can’t afford more of the same.

Our candidates represent a movement for change, for clarity, and for community.

For a Council that works for you, not around you.

Hamilton is ready. So are we.