‘Humble achiever’ prefers deeds over words

Those who wonder if casting a ballot really matters might want to consider Scott Adams. He represents the Wairau-Awatere Ward on Marlborough District Council, but in his first bid for office in 2019, he missed out by 13 votes.

“It does count,” he affirmed.

Three years later, Scott got elected by a comfortable margin – and last year, the ward’s three incumbents faced no challenge, so he returned along with Sally Arbuckle and former mayor Gerald Hope.

A half-year into his second term, asked what distinguishes him, Scott paused and reservedly offered: “I try to be a humble achiever; I’m not in it for fame and fortune. I’m quiet and just try to get things done. I’m a doer.”

Scott is sixth generation in a farming and forestry family, living within his heavily agricultural ward, but is not a hammer for those interests.

“With a big part of the district being rural, it needs to have rural voices around the table,” Scott said. “To be fair to the other elected members, both this term and last term, even though they may not be from the rural areas, they still value the rural regional part of the district and the contribution it makes.

“There’s not an urban/rural divide. Most councillors over the years have looked at Marlborough as a whole,” he added. “When you become sworn-in as a councillor, you know where you come from, but you are ultimately representing everyone.”

Rural roots
On his family’s 1600-hectare property, Scott assumed a significant role in farming in his “late teens”. Scott’s interest in politics extends even further, “from a young age – compared to my contemporaries, [it’s] probably an unnatural interest,” he chuckled.

His seat in council chambers has accorded him “a different perspective” on the workings of local government. “I know enough to be dangerous on council,” Scott quipped, “but you never stop learning.”

Serving with a dozen other councillors and the mayor, Scott understands how far his authority can go.

“You’re only one vote,” he observed, “but around that table, you have a big influence on where the district heads and a big influence on people’s day to day lives, which you don’t take lightly.”

While he happens to live within the ward, Scott does not begrudge any Wairau-Awatere councillor who doesn’t. At the same time, he acknowledges “a generational shift” as retiree councillors retire from council.

“It has seemed to be over the years that people at their autumn stage of life potentially have more time to be involved,” he noted, “and they may have moved to town from the rural area, so they still have a very good rural understanding.”