Biddle pulls out of mayoralty race

‘‘The decision was easy to make, family first.’’ Toni Biddle

Toni Biddle has pulled out of the Invercargill mayoralty race but will not apply for leave from the council as initially indicated.

The first term councillor announced a bid in December to challenge Sir Tim Shadbolt for the Invercargill mayoralty when the 2019 local government elections are held in October.

Earlier this month Biddle indicated she was planning to apply for three months leave as a councillor because of a family illness and would likely pull out of the mayoralty race as well.

Biddle confirmed to The Southland Times yesterday that she had decided she would now continue with her council duties following support from her wider family.

However, she did not believe she could commit to a mayoralty campaign.

‘‘The decision was easy to make, family first. The process has been the hardest part because I love what I do.

‘‘The mayor needs to be committed to the job fulltime 100 per cent in the

next five years. I believe it’s the most transformational time our city has seen for decades.

‘‘I am still able to contribute on behalf of my community and serve as I have previously.’’

It now raises the question as to who, or if anyone, will challenge Shadbolt.

When The Southland Times asked deputy mayor Rebecca Amundsen if she was considering a shot at the mayoralty she said she was not prepared to confirm either way at this stage.

Former deputy mayor Darren Ludlow said he had not made any decisions yet as to if he would run for mayor, but also if in fact he would run for council again.

Ludlow was first elected to the Invercargill City Council in 1998 and has missed just one term since.

He said he would make a decision in the next couple of months as to if he would stand again.

Shadbolt was unaware of anymore challengers who could surface from now until the election.

‘‘That’s the great unknown,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve been in 10 elections and only once I’ve got in unopposed.’’

He believed it was good for democracy if there was more than one mayoral candidate. ‘‘When there is a vigorous mayoral election there is normal an increase in voters across the board, but when it is unopposed voting numbers across the board drop.’’

Shadbolt felt some mayoral candidates in the past have run for mayor to boost their profile during the election to help there chances of getting on as a councillor.

Meanwhile, former Invercargill City Council inner city co-ordinator Kari Garber has confirmed she would run for council this year.