Election tensions on rise
t’s game on with one of the least talkative councillors picking election year as his time to roar — and stand for mayor.
Hamilton City Councillor James Casson has chosen a side in the battle to control council chambers, naming four councillors he’s closely aligned to and pointing out a boys club dubbed the ‘tight five’.
In a recent media report he said Deputy Mayor Martin Gallagher and Crs Geoff Taylor, Mark Bunting, Ryan Hamilton, Dave Macpherson and Garry Mallett – six councillors in total – regularly backed decisions made by the Mayor Andrew King.
Bunting responded to the claims on his Facebook page.
‘‘To the best of my knowledge there is no more a Mayor’s tight five than there is a mayor’s burlesque pig wrestling club,’’ Bunting said.
‘‘If there is such a gang, I’m not aware of it and certainly haven’t been invited to it.
‘‘I will support the Mayor when I agree with him and I won’t when I don’t.’’
Advisers have told Bunting to distance himself from the mayor but that’s dumb, he said.
‘‘Perhaps it’s naivety but I feel it’s easier to get things done when you get along with people, turn up at the workshops and really thrash out the ideas.’’
Casson had stated he intended to stand for council and, yesterday afternoon, confirmed in a text that he would stand for mayor.
He’s previously said Crs Angela O’Leary, Paula Southgate, Rob Pascoe and Leo Tooman share his frustration when they don’t win the majority vote.
Taylor, who has yet to rule out running for mayor, said Casson is barking loudly, but it’s up the wrong tree.
There is no block voting and, despite the rumours, there is no tight five.
‘‘It’s been going on for a while and we’ve, kind of, been ignoring it thinking I don’t want to get into all of that stuff,’’ Taylor said. ‘‘I just think it’s really lazy and dishonest to do that.’’
On Friday, Taylor took to social media and was critical of Casson and his claims, calling the former police officer a keyboard warrior.
Casson barely says a word during council meetings, votes against a motion without debating the issue and is ‘‘all full of bravado on Facebook’’, Taylor said.
‘‘If he wants to debate things, debate things. Don’t just go home and whack it on your Facebook like you never got a chance to debate it because you didn’t take that chance. You’ve got your chance to discuss stuff issue by issue. Use it.’’
Gallagher was accused of being duty bound to follow the mayor’s lead but he said he’s obliged to automatically second a motion proposed by the mayor in order to get it debated.
There is no guarantee, however, that the final vote will fall in favour of the mayor.
‘‘There appeared to be a very tight group around the previous mayor and deputy mayor,’’ Gallagher said. ‘‘Some councillors will be more aligned to the mayor of the day. That’s democracy.’’
I will support the Mayor when I agree with him and I won’t when I don’t.’’
Mark Bunting