Smith hangs on in ‘move to the right’
Controversial Westland mayor Bruce Smith has extended his lead to just under 100 votes, saying there had been ‘‘a real move to the right’’ in the region.
Smith now seems to have held on to the mayoralty, after a close challenge from current deputy mayor Latham Martin.
Smith, ‘‘in his 68th year’’, had been cautiously optimistic he’d retain the mayoralty, but said he had a plan B if he was ousted: whatever retirement activities took his fancy.
The Westland District Council has been on the brink of government intervention over allegations of uncontrolled expenditure, misleading statements and information being withheld. Four councillors complained to the auditor-general about the running of council-owned entities.
Martin’s mayoralty bid came as a surprise, as the two have been political allies. Smith would make no commitment to making Martin deputy again.
Smith said looking at the election results across the West Coast, he felt there was ‘‘a real move to the right’’, which suited him. ‘‘I’m as blue as they come.’’
He believed ‘‘complaints to Wellington’’ would ease this term. When asked why, he said because one of the four councillors who went to the auditorgeneral, Cr Gray Eatwell, had not been re-elected.
Waimakariri
In the epic nine-candidate mayoral battle in the Waimakariri, where the replacement for retiring three-term mayor David Ayers was being contested, long-term councillor Dan Gordon received 6539 votes in the preliminary results published yesterday afternoon, putting him way ahead of the pack. Paul Williams was his closest contender with 3846 votes. Gordon, 43, has been on the council for 15 years.
Hurunui
The three-woman race in the Hurunui district was definitively won by deputy mayor Marie Black, with a landslide endorsement from her district. Black, who was nominated by retiring mayor Winton Dalley, received 3189 votes, ahead of Julia McLean on 1099 and Peggy Burrows’ 562.
Selwyn
Selwyn mayor Sam Broughton retained his seat with a sizeable 7483 vote margin over rival Bill Woods.
Ashburton
Neil Brown claimed the mayoralty with 4418 votes in the preliminary count, ousting Donna Favel. Business owner Tony Todd was second with 3731 votes, and Favel third on 2384 votes. Brown, born and raised in Ashburton, has been on council for 15 years.
Buller
Buller District councillor and Westport dairy farmer Jamie Cleine has been elected mayor in a runaway victory over former long-term mayor Pat O’Dea with
2161 votes compared with O’Dea’s
771. Incumbent Garry Howard did not stand.
Grey
Grey District councillor Tania Gibson has been elected mayor on 2709 votes, with Cliff Sandrey close behind on 2514. Tony Kokshoorn stood down after five terms as mayor.