No challengers yet for mayoralty

Nobody has put their hand up yet to be mayor of Palmerston North, with two of incumbent Grant Smith’s previous rivals saying it would be madness to stand against him.

Smith was elected mayor at a by-election in February 2015 after his predecessor Jono Naylor quit to become a list MP.

Three other city councillors, Lew Findlay, Tangi Utikere and Vaughan Dennison stood against him then.

This time around, Findlay said he was now supporting Smith.

‘‘Why would I stand against him? He’s done a good job.

‘‘It would be stupid to oppose him. ‘‘He will win hands down.’’ Dennison said it would be a waste of time and money to campaign against Smith.

‘‘He’s doing a pretty credible job, and is worthy of a second term.

‘‘He’s well supported both in public opinion and financially.’’

Both Findlay and Dennison have put nominations in for another term as councillors, as has Utikere. Smith is at the Local Government New Zealand conference in Dunedin this week, and said he would probably get his nomination in when he returned.

Long-serving city councillor Jim Jefferies, who served as deputy mayor before Smith’s election, said he was intending to stand again for what would be a seventh term.

He said if he had ever thought of standing for mayor, it would have been many years ago.

Jefferies said Smith had put a lot of energy into the mayoralty and it was unlikely anyone could unseat him.

The Taxpayers Union recently launched a challenge against longterm councillors, suggesting there should be a limit on how long councillors should serve.

‘‘It is hard to look at their analysis and say they have identified a problem,’’ Jefferies said.

‘‘We have quite a diversity of ages, and to have one person with loads of experience I would see as being positive.’’

Most of the balance of the councillors have put their nominations in promptly.

They include Susan Baty, Rachel Bowen, Adrian Broad, Leonie Hapeta and Bruno Petrenas.

The only councillor who has indicated he will not be standing again is Ross Linklater, after three terms.

Neither confirming nor denying whether he would stand again was Chris Teo-sherrell.

The council elected at October’s election will include one or two newcomers, with competition for the 15 seats likely to be fierce.

The Green Party has launched a campaign for its candidate Brent Barrett, and Labour has endorsed Zulfiqar Butt, David Chisholm, Lorna Johnson and Sheryll Hoera.

Candidates who tested the waters in the 2015 councillor byelection that was won by Petrenas and have confirmed their nominations are Gabrielle Bundycooke, Martin Egan, former mayoress Karen Naylor and Sue Pugmire.

The nomination list is rounded out by Gavin Edwards, James Etuale, Tony Mclaughlin, and Atif Rahim.

Nominations close at noon on Friday, August 12.