No intention to deceive, says politician

A long-serving Christchurch community politician who failed to disclose she is standing for roles on two different councils says she never set out to deceive voters.

Linda Stewart, who has spent three terms on the Burwood-Pegasus Community Board, is standing for the new Coastal-Burwood Community Board and is also seeking election to the Waimakariri District Council.

Stewart disclosed her dual bid on her Waimakariri candidate profile, which goes out to all voters, but not on her Christchurch candidate profile information.

Under the Electoral Act, candidates can stand for more than one territorial authority, but they must specify each position they are standing for in their profile.

When Stewart put in her nomination as the Burwood ward representative on the community board, she said she had no intention on standing for the Waimakariri District Council. It was not until the day the nominations closed that she decided to put her name forward. ‘‘There’s no intention to deceive.’’ She only became aware of her mistake when contacted by Christchurch electoral officer Jo Daly. ‘‘I thought ‘oh gosh, oh dear’.’’ Stewart said Daly told her she was not going to take any further action because she could see it was a ‘‘slip up’’.

Stewart moved to North Canterbury after her Bower St home was written off after the earthquakes. She has since sold that property and has inherited another property in Bridge St, which she intends to move into once it has been repaired.

She rented in Pegasus, near Woodend, before buying a home in Rangiora, which she moved into earlier this year. Stewart said she expected to keep the Rangiora property as a rental when she moved to Southshore.

The decision to stand for the Waimakariri District Council came after Stewart became upset at how the council handled the public consultation surrounding what playground equipment to install at a local park.

‘‘It was handled appallingly. The council here is quite disconnected from its community.’’

Stewart was in no doubt she could manage both jobs if elected.

‘‘I wouldn’t do it if I couldn’t manage the workload.’’

If elected to both positions, her combined salary would be $64,032 ($22,432 for the community board and $41,600 for Waimakariri).