Money for nothing, but votes aren’t free
Money was not the be-all and end-all of the Horizons Regional Council by-election, with the biggest spending candidate – who was also the only one to get donations – not winning the seat.
The biggest spender during the September by-election was former Palmerston North City councillor Chris Teosherrell, who spent $5668 on his campaign, according to recently released figures from Horizons.
Teo-sherrell was also the only candidate to get donations – $4597 from a variety of sources, including garage sales and donors.
He finished in second place with 4951 votes, 238 votes behind eventual winner Jono Naylor, a former MP and mayor of Palmerston North. Naylor replaced Pat Kelly, who died during Queen’s Birthday Weekend.
Naylor spent $2448.95, with nearly half going on newspaper advertising.
That was less than the $3102 spent by thirdplaced Jack Dowds, a former chief executive of South Wairarapa District Council and head of Massey University’s school of accountancy, who netted 4349 votes.
His biggest bill was $1409 for flyers. Corflute signs set him back $1262.
Grant Seton spent a paltry $46, all on printing flyers, getting 821 votes in return.
Ross Barber, who finished last in the election with 255 votes, and who would have been ineligible to serve on the council because of his brother having power of attorney over his assets, did not have a return on Horizons’ website.