Election brings five new councillors
All incumbents who stood re-elected to Stratford District Council
With preliminary election results now in, the makeup of the Stratford District Council table is set to feature five new faces. In the rural ward, the only ward to be contested in this year’s election, five candidates stood for a total of four seats.
Incumbent councillors Amanda Harris, Grant Boyde and Vaughan Jones have all been comfortably returned to the table, with preliminary results showing Amanda as polling highest with 815 votes, followed by Grant (783) and Vaughan (666).
Newcomer Steve Beck currently has 606 votes, putting him 184 votes ahead of Nicole McDonald, making it almost certain he will be taking the final seat in the rural ward for this term, with only special votes left to be counted.
Final results are expected on Thursday this week. Steve won’t be the only new face at the council table however, as he will be joined by Clive Tongaawhikau who was elected unopposed in the Stratford Ma¯ ori Ward, along with three new urban councillors who were also elected unopposed. Annette Dudley, Ellen Hall and Mathew Watt will be joining incumbent urban councillors Jono Erwood, Min McKay and John Sandford. Stratford Mayor Neil Volzke, who was also elected unopposed, says the new council will be sworn in later this month.
“I’m pleased to see all incumbent councillors who stood have been reelected, and I look forward to meeting with all new councillors over the next week.”
I’m pleased to see all incumbent councillors who stood have been reelected
Stratford Mayor Neil Volzke