Chester Borrows is 51 years of age and has enjoyed success after three attempts to win the Whanganui Electorate from previous incumbent Jill Pettis. Chester says the challenge now is to “…turn it on for the people of the Whanganui Electorate and make the seat safe for National.” Chester has offices in Wanganui and in Hawera. With a history in policing and the law, Chester’s policy interests are around Law and Order and Welfare.
Chester was raised in Nelson and attended Nayland College before entering the Police in 1975 as a 17-year-old Cadet. 24 years later he left the Police to stand for Parliament and then attended Victoria University obtaining an LLB between elections and campaign again in 2002. Chester then started work with Till Henderson King as a staff solicitor with a general practice but concentrating on Criminal law. Chester finished work in March 2005 to campaign again, this time successfully, he draws on this experience in his work in parliament and the electorate.
Between the 2006 and 2008 Election Chester was appointed National Party spokesman and as part of the Law and Order Team worked on those policies dealing with police, corrections and justice, which formed a substantive part of the 100 Day Action Plan. In Government, Chester is the Chair of the Justice and Electoral Select Committee and a member of the Social Services Committee.
Interests in tramping and canoeing see Chester in the bush or on local rivers and lakes given the opportunity and Chester is also involved as a Lay Preacher and Funeral and Marriage Celebrant in his community.
Married to Ella for 30 years Chester has three children aged between 19 and 25 and spending time with the family is a priority for him. The sixth member of the family is an old mutt called “Joe” who Chester describes as his ‘stress release’; “…he never disagrees with me on our long walks, and occasionally has some good ideas of his own.”
Chester has taken a 3155 deficit in 1999 to a 6333 majority in 2008 and looks forward to extending that next election.
Chester with the Prime Minister, John Key
