The Whangarei District Council has appointed an Auckland lawyer to head an inquiry into the actions of its chief executive Mark Simpson.
Mr Simpson sacked his personal assistant for nominating a mayoral candidate, but allowed his executive assistant to help the council's finance chairman with his mayoral campaign.
A partner with law firm Dawson Harford, Simon Stokes, will chair a review team of three councillors.
The firm's website says Mr Stokes specialises in commercial litigation, construction contracts, mediation and arbitration.
