Winning local council seat not just about spending

Winning a seat on local government isn’t just about how much money a candidate is prepared to spend on their campaign, based on figures made available by Election Services.

While bigger spenders for the Rodney Local Board, in last October’s Auckland Council elections, such as Kumeu subdivision candidates Brenda Steele ($5645), Thomas Grace ($4017) and Bob Howard ($3800) were successful, others who dug deep to fund their campaigns such as Dairy Flat candidate Alan Curtis ($3416) and Warkworth candidate Larry Mitchell ($3700) were unsuccessful.

In the Mayoral race, Colin Craig spent $569,321 and John Banks spent $554,958. This is compared to the more modest expenditure of the successful candidate Len Brown who spent $390,761.

Limits are set on the amount candidates can spend on their campaigns and each candidate is required to submit a declaration of their spending and donations received. Candidates who breach the limit can face prosecution.

Spending by Auckland Council candidates from Rodney was as follows:
Tom Ashton $29,156, Penny Webster $28,935 (elected), Christine Rose $7465 and Vince Pereira (no declaration).

The only candidate to receive a donation was Cr Penny Webster who received $15,650 from Grumpies, a group who also supported her Mayoral campaign in 2007.

Spending by Rodney Local Board candidates was as follows:

Wellsford subdivision – Stephanie Railey $1371, James Rolfe $589 (elected), James Colville $500, Sally Usher $404, Greg Dempsey (no return submitted).

Warkworth – Larry Mitchell $3700, June Turner $3574 (elected), Jim Visser $1059, Tracey Martin $855 (elected), Steven Garner $444 (elected).

Kumeu – *Warren Flaunty $22,465 (elected), Brenda Steele $5645 (elected), Thomas Grace $4017 (elected), Bob Howard $3800 (elected), Rick Croft $2161, Sarah Ellis-Kirifi $1773, Phelan Pirrie $1402, Brian Neeson $725. *Mr Flaunty stood for five positions.

Dairy Flat – Alan Curtis $3416, Tim Murphy $1450, John McLean $450 (elected).

Published February 2011