Key staffer may seek nomination
An early frontrunner has emerged in the race to replace former prime minister John Key as MP for Helensville.
Genelle Bailey, Key’s senior support person in the electorate for almost 10 years, is being tipped as the one to watch, including by Rodney Local Board member Phelan Pirrie who says Bailey is his pick.
New campaign-style photographs have been recently uploaded to Bailey’s Facebook page and with a comment from Bailey saying ‘‘here we go’’, speculation is hot.
Bailey is not talking – declining to comment for this story. So what do we know about her? She’s been with Key for a long time and Pirrie says through this she is well informed on local issues.
Bailey is on the board of trustees for Kaipara College, along with Rodney Local Board member and husband, Brent Bailey.
Her daughter, Bianca Bailey, also seems to have a keen interest in the world of politics as she visited Parliament last year as part of Youth Parliament, shadowing Key.
Political blogger and pollster, David Farrar, says Bailey is very liked and respected within the party.
Farrar says he expects nominations for selection to the seat should open soon.
Nominations remain open for about three weeks before going to the electorate board for approval. The board may veto unsuitable candidates, Farrar says.
Once nominations close the National Party constitution requires a preselection committee is convened to check out the potential candidates.
If there are more than five nominees, and Farrar says he suspects there will be more than five in Helensville, the committee reduces the number to five.
Farrar says now is the time for nominees to be out seeking support within the electorate branches, with the aim of getting their supporters chosen as delegates to then vote for them to get the nomination at the party’s national conference.
At the electorate’s annual general meeting, which must be held before April 30, delegates are selected.
To be successful Bailey needs 50 per cent of the delegate vote.
TV personality Hayley Holt has said she is considering running for the Helensville seat.
The Helensville electorate has been a happy hunting ground for National – Key received 65.57 per cent of valid electorate votes with a winning margin of 18,287 in the 2014 election. – Fairfax NZ
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