Naylor’s back to politics

Former Palmerston North mayor and MP Jono Naylor has completed his comeback to politics, little more than a year after he made what was thought to be his final political speech.

Naylor was confirmed yesterday as the winner of a Horizons Regional Council by-election, replacing Pat Kelly who died on Queen’s Birthday Weekend.

He netted 5189 votes, 238 more than second-placed former Palmerston North City councillor Chris Teo-sherrell.

Former South Wairarapa District Council chief executive Jack Dowds was third with 4349 votes, while the final two candidates, Grant Seton and Ross Barber, had 821 and 255 votes, respectively.

The positions are the same as the progress results, which were released soon after voting closed on Friday, although Teo-sherrell did gain some ground on Naylor once all votes were counted.

Naylor has a long history in Palmerston North politics, spending 13 years on Palmerston North City Council – almost half of them as the city’s mayor.

He then spent one term in Parliament, coming in 51st on the National Party’s list after the 2014 general election.

He announced in 2016 he would not stand for re-election in 2017.

He said he wanted to do something else after 16 years as a politician.

He made his final speech to Parliament in August last year.

When he announced his Horizons candidacy, he told Stuff he was still committed to the region and being on the regional council was ‘‘a really good way to get involved’’.

The election had a 27.47 per cent voter turnout, and 18 informal votes and 49 blank voting papers were received.

Naylor will be sworn on to the council at a meeting on October 9.

He will have less than a year before the next election.