The battle of Hamilton East
David Bennett has held Hamilton East for National since 2005 but he faces two new challengers from Labour and the Greens. and look at the three major contenders.
CAMPAIGNING AT HOME
Second-time election candidate Jamie Strange believes he has what it takes to defeat National at the coming election.
His strategy to win the blue Hamilton East seat and turn it red for Labour begins by simply becoming more visible than his opponent, incumbent David Bennett.
‘‘I’m talking to as many people as I can, whether it be on their door steps, at events or on the phone. I think a lot of people don’t vote because they don’t know the candidates or haven’t met any of them.
‘‘So it’s that ability to connect with people which is important.’’
Strange contested the Taupo seat at the 2014 election. He had wanted to stand in Hamilton East but the party put forward Cliff Allen.
This time the party has given Strange the nod to compete against Bennett, an opponent with a 10,199 vote majority over Allen from the 2014 election.
‘‘This is a bellwether seat, a swing seat, but it has gone more blue in recent times so that provides me with a big challenge.
‘‘My opponent is very visible so I have to match that. I have to get to know more people, show them who I am, get that narrative out there face-to-face and combine it with Labour’s policies.’’
Strange said Labour’s four main policies for the election would be based around health, housing, education and community safety.
The latter would look at a return to community police constables, a topic people in Hamilton East would be keen to talk about given a rise in burglaries around suburban shopping centres.
Strange said connecting with people through his links as a school teacher and with the Gateway Church were also part of his campaign.