The inspiration that lead Leigh to first stand for Council still exists today and that is to represent a section of the community that was under represented in the past - namely the youth and families and to also tell it like it really is.
As an independent - and not part of the "old boys network" that can exist in politics, Leigh believes that she represents her local community well and at all times is honest (sometimes brutally honest) in her dealings. She is not afraid to speak her mind around the Council table and will do what is best for the majority of the Community and will not be swayed by "self interest" pressure groups that are pocketed around the District.
"You can please some people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time" is her motto.
Leigh has strong family values. is a critical thinker, has excellent business sense and is strategical and practical with her decision making style.
As a qualified member of the Hearings Committee, Leigh has been actively involved in a number of resource consent hearings which she enjoys very much. Caring about the natural environment, she has been an active campaigner in the past against GE and still believes that the Horowhenua should not partake in growing GE modified crops.
Leigh was "Made In Levin" having been a community member for all of her life, working and raising 3 sons in the mighty Horowhenua.
Her personal and professional background includes owning and operating two local family business, being a productive member on various community committees and community trusts, was the previous manager of the Levin Mall and now works for the Higgins group of Companies as a Business Development and Sales Manager.
As a business Development Manager, Leigh understands first hand the pressures that businesses are still facing with regards to the recession and knows that it is critical that we focus on strengthening our local economy and investigating ways in which we can assist local business and industry thrive while also attracting new businesses and industries to the Horowhenua.
Living in Levin with husband Stephen and between them they have 5 sons with one son still a dependent as a student studying Commerce at Victoria University. Her two step sons are working in Australia and her other two sons are living in New Zealand - one son is a Structural Engineer and her other son studying IT.
