Ousted concede: ‘that’s politics’
There are chains to be handed back and desks to be cleared as final tallies for the 2019 local elections are totalled.
In Wellington, the incumbent mayor Justin Lester will step down, as will councillors Chris Calvi-Freeman, Brian Dawson and Peter Gilberd.
It is a bitter medicine of pride, regret and disappointment for the four men but one response was consistent: a grimace, a shrug, and the phrase ‘‘that’s politics’’. Lester, who lost the mayoralty by 503 votes, said he was ‘‘disappointed’’ with the result but bade Andy Foster and the new council well.
He would ‘‘go back to having a nice life’’ with his family and had a ‘‘few ideas’’ about the future, including setting up ‘‘another business’’. He had previously cofounded a food store chain, Kapai. He urged the new mayor to ‘‘get on with the job’’.
Outgoing Motukairangi/Eastern ward councillor and transport portfolio leader Chris CalviFreeman said he was ‘‘clearly disappointed’’ he hadn’t achieved a mandate to continue serving his ward. Let’s Get Wellington Moving had been ‘‘frustratingly slow’’ but ‘‘not for want of trying’’ on his part.
‘‘I feel we have achieved a multi-party agreement that will move Wellington forward and I hope that other forces won’t try now to destroy that.’’
His association with transport had been unfortunate, ‘‘given the issues with the buses’’, which was the purview of the regional council, not the city council.
He liked new mayor Foster ‘‘very much. I think it is going to be a huge challenge for him’’. CalviFreeman planned on expanding his business with his wife.
Ousted by young gun Tamatha Paul by 815 votes in the Pukehı¯nau/Lambton ward, councillor Brian Dawson hoped some of his pet projects, such as work on a new social housing policy, ‘‘would not get lost in the mix’’ after his departure.
He was proud of the council becoming the first accredited living wage council in the country, and the increased funding for the NZ Fringe Festival.
He ‘‘wasn’t going to cry’’ about his loss, however, and had been brushing up his CV.
He hadn’t completely lost out, though, rounding off a concession speech on Saturday night by proposing to partner of 31⁄2-years, Karen Matthews. She said yes but a wedding date had not been set.
‘‘I might have to get a permanent job before that,’’ Dawson said.
Peter Gilberd was toppled in the Takapu¯ /Northern ward by new councillor and mayoral hopeful Jenny Condie. Asked how he was feeling about the loss yesterday, he said he was fine.
He had stood up for the environment and for inclusivity, and hoped the new council would get moving on some key projects such as Let’s Get Wellington Moving.
He would be looking for work in the science and management sectors.
Itisa bitter medicine of pride, regret and disappointment for the four men.