Voter keen to know more about Labour candidate
I HAVE received an election blurb on behalf of Steve Walker, who is endorsed by the Labour Party.
To me, this seems somewhat strange as for a long time it would appear that Mr Walker was trying to attach himself to the coat tails of the Green Party through his public association with the Greenendorsed preferred candidate, Aaron Hawkins.
As Mr Walker has now publicly aligned himself to the Labour Party, I would be interested if he could provide answers to the following:
How long has he been a branch member of the Labour Party?
Is he a current member of a trade union? If yes, what union and when did he join? John Neilson Dunedin
[Steve Walker replies:
‘‘I have been a branch member
(West Harbour) for two years. I have never been a member of any other political party, and I am not currently a member of a trade union.
‘‘I have been a personal friend of Aaron Hawkins for over 10 years. Like many of us, I have a diverse group of friends from across the political spectrum — surely that’s healthy? In fact, it has been heartening to hear people whom I know telling me that they will vote for me based on the hard work I have done in the community despite being endorsed by the Labour Party.
‘‘That said, in a packed field of 37 candidates, being a Labour Partyendorsed candidate does offer me the opportunity to let the public know that I support core Labour principles of progressive social change, a fair chance for all and a strong belief in social justice.’’]
MAYORAL candidate Malcolm MoncriefSpittle continues to talk through his hat (ODT, 19.9.19).
Around the time Dunedin was settled by Europeans, sealevel rise was less than 1mm a year. Now, it is over 3mm and accelerating.
Where else does he suppose the melting ice is going? Greenland lost 300 billion tonnes last year and the Arctic is still heating up.
Earth was cooling at 0.2degC per thousand years until just prior to the Industrial Revolution. It doesn’t take a genius to work out homo sapiens is up the creek without a paddle.
Dennis Horne United Kingdom
FOR many Dunedin voters, it will be most confusing with 14 people standing for the position of mayor.
Dunedin needs a mayor with sound financial experience and knowledge and preferably one who has had experience in owning and running a successful business or venture.
Before I vote, I want to know: if each candidate is independent or if he/she belongs to a political party; who would use ratepayers’ money most wisely — for water, drains, roads and paths before ‘‘fancy projects’’; who would encourage entrepreneurs, businesspeople, educational establishments and tourists to our city; what will happen to transport through Dunedin when the hospital is being built; will freedom campers (instead of local ratepaying holiday camp business owners) be supported and encouraged?
Dunedin needs the best. Bernice Armstrong Opoho [Abridged]
IT is disappointing that, so far as I can see, there are no Ngai Tahu local body candidates.
I would have valued an opportunity to consider their ideas and proposals and the chance to vote for them.
Philip Temple Dunedin