Former deputy mayor replaces councillor
I am fully committed to you, and you have my ear. Alan Jamieson
After six years as the sole councillor in the Taranaki Regional Council Stratford constituency, Matthew McDonald will not be returning for a third term in the job.
Provisional results for the local government elections show a clear win for former Stratford deputy mayor Alan Jamieson.
Final results are due on Thursday this week after special votes have been counted, but sp far Alan has 736 votes, giving him a clear lead over former South Taranaki mayor Mary Bourke, who has 619 votes. Matthew is in third place with 578 votes, while Andrew Wood has 462 votes.
Alan, who served nine years on the town’s district council before putting his name in the ring for the regional council seat instead this election, says he is pleased with the result, adding he will work hard to ensure he represents the community at the Taranaki Regional Council table.
“I would like to thank the voters of the Stratford district for their confidence in me once again, this time in my new role as councillor for TRC. I am fully committed to you, and you have my ear.”
Matthew isn’t the only regional council incumbent to lose a seat in this election,
Elvisa van der Leden also missed out on a seat in the new Plymouth general constituency, with first-time candidate Susan Hughes, KC, polling highest with 10358 votes. She will be joined by incumbents Charlotte Littlewood (10071), Tom Cloke (9896), Craig Williamson (8076) and David Lean (8009).
There is no change likely in the North Taranaki general constituency, with both incumbents, Mike Davey and Donald McIntyre, polling highest. Mike is currently sitting at 4108 votes and Donald at 3396, giving a comfortable lead ahead of the one other candidate for the constituency, Tama Blackburn, who has 2137 votes.
With both Taranaki Regional Council chairman David MacLeod and his deputy Michael Joyce not standing in this election, there were two seats available in the South Taranaki general constituency. While traditionally the constituency has had three seats, the introduction of a Ma¯ori ward meant one seat less in the area for this election. Incumbent Neil Walker has retained his seat, coming in with 3339 votes, followed by newcomer Donna Cram (2856). Bonita Bigham was elected unopposed for the Taranaki Ma¯ori constituency.