Mike Montgomerie
Rookie Waipā councillor Mike Montgomerie has been fast-tracked into a powerful position as deputy chair of the Strategic Planning and Policy committee.
The Maungatautari fifth generation dairy farmer’s elevation was one of the big surprises when mayor Susan O’Regan announced her council committee structure this week.
Montgomerie, 52, graduated with a law degree from Otago University and worked in commercial law before returning to the Waikato. He has farmed at Hautapu, Whitehall, Kaipaki and Horahora where he and his wife Luci now milk 400 cows.
He served one term on the Cambridge Community Board before putting his name forward for the council at this year’s elections.
Three years ago, he completed his master’s degree focusing on environmental and agricultural law from Waikato University and told The News his studies would hold him in good stead for the council and strategy committee job.
The father of four sons is a graduate of Fonterra’s governance development programme and represents farmers on the Co-Operative Council.
Proving the community board breeds leaders, former board chair and second-term councillor Mike Pettit, was appointed Service Delivery committee deputy while Roger Gordon has the same role on the Audit and Risk committee.
