Rotorua Councillor Charles Sturt is a man who has seen a lot of local body elections and is no stranger to being in the public eye.

Since an operation to combat cancer last year, Charles has lost 34kgs.

In a post on Facebook, Charles has responded to those who have questioned his physical appearance.

Rotorua Now reported several weeks ago Charles will stand for a 10th term on the Rotorua Lakes Council. He has now officially confirmed his intention.

Late last year, in an interview with Rotorua's daily newspaper, he revealed his serious health problems. But he has been given a clearance as his health is on its way to being restored.

The 62-year-old became a district councillor in 1989s and had a checkered career under two previous mayors.

In Kevin Winters' third and final term, he was denied senior responsibilities. Miffed, he then refused even minor appointments.

In the late 1990s, he resigned from the council suddenly, but returned in 1998.

With Kevin's defeat in 2013, Charles' fortunes were revived.

He was appointed to a senior chairmanship under Steve Chadwick and today is chairman of the Rotorua Lakes' operations and monitoring committee.

Recently, he has been seen in public at an early morning unveiling of a Te Arawa memorial in the Government Gardens and later at Steve's mayoral launch campaign.

In a post on Facebook on Monday, Charles said: 'Many who have seen me recently have asked what's happened.”

He then praises the author of last year's article, the link of which was attached to his post.

'I came out and revealed this, simply to tell others to fight get positive support listen to the medics and fight, fight, fight.

'I saw so many getting treatment, give up, refuse treatment, as it's not nice.

'The pain, the discomfort, the dark thoughts one has, get to many.

'Not me, I'm a fighter.

'And I intend to fight my 10th election in October as one lady came up to me and said, ‘your work is not done! Huey [the great councillor in the sky] doesn't want you.'

'We had a good laugh. But she is right one more term to get art and history museum reopened, skatepark for our youth constructed and the transformation of the aquatic centre completed. As sport and (recreation) lead, we have much to do.

'I'm standing as you [Rotorua] need new blood, plus experience on council, but please vote for 10 councillors who will work hard for the people not someone else's agenda.”