Hamilton council candidates confirmed for poll

Candidates vying for a seat at the Hamilton City Council table have been announced.

Nominations closed midday Friday and it has since been confirmed 47 hopefuls will run in the 2019 local body elections.

Eight mayoral candidates have put their hat in the ring, compared with seven in 2016, including sitting Hamilton city mayor Andrew King who is looking for a second term.

Others eyeing up the top spot are Jack Gielen, Lisa Lewis, Angela O’Leary, James Casson, Louise Hutt, Paula Southgate and Mike West.

King and Southgate are only seeking the Hamilton mayoralty and are not contesting a ward seat.

There are 20 candidates who have put their name forward for the six places in the east ward, compared with 25 candidates in 2016.

In the west ward, 19 candidates are competing for six spots, compared with 16 at the last local body elections.

Voting packs will start arriving in the mail from September 20.

Voters are being urged to post their ballots back by October 5 to guarantee they will arrive in time to be counted.

There is no online voting. Voting officially closes at midday on Saturday, October 12, and voting papers can be handdelivered to the Hamilton City Council office in Garden Place up until then.

By law, voting papers received after midday cannot be counted.

Voters are being urged to take care when filling in their voting paper to ensure all instructions are followed.

If not filled in correctly, the vote will not be counted.

Those not already enrolled to vote in local government elections can do so up to Friday, October 11.

East ward Brad Hills, Margaret Forsyth, Jack Gielen, Peter Humphreys, Lisa Lewis, Rob Pascoe, Tim Young, Kesh Naidoo-Rauf, Anna Smart, James Casson, Tony Dixon, Ryan Hamilton, Krishna Reddy, Mark Bunting, Meleane Burgess, Andrew Bydder, Garry Mallett, Maxine van Oosten, Mike West, Andrea McLachlan.

West ward Matthew Small, Chris Davis, Shanti Ralm, Rudi du Plooy, Leo Tooman, Angela O’Leary, Sarah Thomson, Dave Macpherson, Geoff Taylor, Martin Gallagher, Siggi Henry, Michelle Houghton, Louise Hutt, David McNab, Ewan Wilson, Peter Bos, Geoff Holt, Melaina Huaki, Matt Shea.