No stumping this candidate
Novel sign position for election hopeful Poll parties chance to ensure your voice is heard
One local body election candidate hasn’t been stumped for places to get his message across. Western Bay of Plenty mayoral candidate James Denyer spotted a fallen and sawn tree alongside State Highway 2 at Te Puna and thought it was an ideal spot for a sign.
“I drive past the stump quite regularly on the way to Tauranga and its freshly cut face really stands out,” he says.
“I thought to myself that it would be a really effective place to put a sign as it faces directly towards the traffic. In addition, the congestion at that point means that traffic moves slowly past it, which allows people to read it.”
He says up close the stump is bigger than it appears from the road and he was pleased to find it would easily accommodate and provide an ideal support for his sign.
James says the sign has caused quite a stir. “I have regularly had people in the community mention it, whether I’m out shopping or catching up with friends,” he says.
“I think it’s just a bit different and that makes it noticeable.”
It’s not a typo — poll parties are to be held across the district to create a buzz around voting in this year’s local body elections.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council has organised six poll parties across district.
Council CEO John Holyoake says the parties are to bring the ballot box to more easily accessible locations across the district with an element of fun thrown in. Among the six parties will be one at Te Puke Library and another at Maketu¯ Community Centre, on September 24 between 9am and 3pm.
John says the poll parties are chances to exercise your democratic right to vote by dropping off your completed and alreadysealed papers into the ballot box, before you soak up the party atmosphere.
The only way to vote is by filling out the voting forms you will receive in your letterbox from tomorrow. Then you need to either post them in the mail or drop them in a polling booth. There is no online option.
John says it’s crucial to bring voting options closer to homes so everyone in the district has an opportunity to have their say.
“A wide range of candidates have put their hands up from around the rohe, but you decide who gets the job of representing you on important decisions. So, you need to vote for your voice to be heard.”
There’s no need to RSVP, just grab your completed and already-sealed voting papers and head along. All council library and service centres will have ballot boxes available to drop off votes during business hours tomorrow until noon on October 8.