As October’s local elections approach, reporter Kelley Tantau continues to put the spotlight on the mayoral contenders, and asks why they think they’re fit to wear the chains.
A military man with visions to one day amalgamate the Matamata-Piako and Hauraki districts may not be actively campaigning for the mayoral chains, but says his “tested and trialled” experience under pressure has prepared him well for local politics.
Roman Jackson is living in Te Aroha and is running for both Mayor of Hauraki and Matamata-Piako, as well as councillor for the Waihi ward and Te Aroha ward.
If successful in his run for mayoralty, his goal is to work toward amalgamation of both Hauraki and Matamata-Piako, turning it into one larger district.
‘Upoko Matangi’ is his envisioned name for the rohe.
“My aim with amalgamation – I believe [it] would be the quick-fix option to reduce rates rises; however, it is more than just about the financial sustainability,” he told The Profile.
“I believe we need to remove this invisible line between the districts because it just fuels more separatist thinking. I am aware the current Mayor does not support amalgamation, or at least so I read, so I am standing for people who do support it and this in itself will be the catalyst to determine what people really want to do.”
The 34-year-old has got connections to both districts.
The former Waihi East and Waihi Beach schoolboy is also a fifth generation Te Aroha local. He told The Profile his grandparents were among the original townspeople who paved the roads of Te Aroha in the 1800s after arriving from Ireland and Norway.
His military career began as a 17-year-old, and
Jackson said he had since served in four different militaries overall, most recently as a squad commander in Ukraine and earlier with the Chosen Company and 3rd Separate Assault Brigade.
“I have had a gunfight in the forest at night with no night vision. I have swarmed trenches and buildings. I have crawled across a minefield pulling my dead friend with a rope to remain undetected. I have had someone’s blood and shinbones in my mouth from stepping on a mine in front of me. I have been in a Humvee explosion; chased by FPV [First Person View] drones in the forest; experienced Covid-19 in a trench during winter; been stabbed in street fights.
“I have been shot, wrestled with Russians, you name it.”
Jackson said if he was unsuccessful in the local body elections, he would return to Ukraine for the fifth time if the war was still ongoing.
“It was never my intention to ever stand for Mayor until I had enough of seeing poor investment choices and lack of innovative solutions,” he said.
“I am a firm believer that democracy belongs to those who have sworn an oath to defend it. Being a soldier is about protecting a way of thinking and that way of thinking is coming under threat now more than ever before. Our world is entering wartime once again so we must have strong leadership at all levels.”
BY KELLEY TANTAU
