A clash of management styles has been cited as the reason for a candidate's decision to stand as an independent in the Rotorua local body elections.

Peter Jones, a former banker, told Rotorua Now he had always intended running as an independent in the October 12 elections, though he had persuaded to join the Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers (RDRR) by its leader, Reynold Macpherson.

He says he and the group's aims – rates, debt control and infrastructure reduction – are similar.

'Unfortunately, there was a clash of management style,” Peter says.

'Reynold's is more autocratic, mine is collegial and when you have been in business as long as I have, sometimes hard decisions have to be taken – so, I left the group.”

Reynold Macpherson says he finds Peter Jones's 'autocratic” description as 'inaccurate, unfair and ironic”.

'He claimed that (the term autocratic) as the reason he resigned,” Reynold says.

'Others in the campaign team take very different views on his demands that precipitated his resignation.

'The team comprises strong-minded individuals who are normally able to negotiate key issues and preliminary positions with my facilitation. The ‘autocratic' descriptor is inaccurate, unfair and ironic.”

He says the group's president Glenys Searancke had, however, accepted the resignation with regret because he had decided to run as an independent.

'This decision was inconsistent with his endorsement oath to members and our constitution which requires a team campaign. Nevertheless, we warmly acknowledge all the good things that Peter did contribute when he was with us and wish him well in his campaign.”

While Peter Jones made his decision a week ago, news of it did not become public until Tuesday.

It appears to have taken RDRR by surprise for Peter Jones, with his banking background, has an impressive CV in the financial world, not often seen in local body politics.

He has severed ties with the group, and is the third 'endorsed” candidate to have pulled out the race for the RDRR bloc this year.

The earlier withdrawals were ex-policeman Kevin Coutts and Wilhelmina Mohi, who, however, remain members of RDRR.

Last night Peter Jones said: 'I was always going to run as an independent candidate but Reynold … talked me into joining the RDRR and seeking an endorsement from the group.

'I always believed an endorsement was just that and that I would be free to campaign as an independent, supporting their aims whenever I could.

'We have similar priorities, rates – control, debt – reduce and infrastructure – renew…”

Peter also established two businesses in Rotorua.

He says the town has been 'very good” to him; he wants to employ his financial and management skills and governance to 'help get my city out of a mess”.