Backbencher

I read an article in North and South magazine titled Meng Foon, Gisborne mayor, te reo exponent and hangi-layer. The writer, Jenny Chamberlain, follows Gisborne's mayor, Foon, on a typical day in his work and family life. The day starts off waking up at sunrise. The city is the first to see the sun come up in New Zealand. Mayor Foon is half Chinese and half Maori. He is the second chinese person to hold office in New Zealand, and he is fluent in four languages including Maori. His knowledge of language helped him land his post due to the fact that his two Maori opponents could not speak Maori.
The city of Gisborne loves their Mayor. He starts off the day by visiting a radio station for breakfast and a weekly interview. The rest of his day is full of meetings with constituents who the Mayor is always eager to listen to. He is constantly taking notes in his notebook along with phone numbers to keep people in formed. He knows many of his constituents by his first name, and if he does not he always asks. The Mayor is a huge proponent of education and trade learning. In the mid afternoon he lectures at a local school about the importance of education.
His family keeps him grounded, and his wife ensures he is eating right and exercising. She indicates that there has been times when she returns from an out of town trip to find that her husband has gained five pounds. The end of the long day is a late night family dinner, they relax, laugh, and talk about their days. After working a long day Foon does not seem too tired. He states that he has energy every waking hour due to his exciting job and the love of his family.