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Candidate sessions
Information sessions have been organised for anyone interested in becoming a candidate in the Auckland Council local elections. These sessions will cover topics such as what the Council does and the services and facilities it manages, what an elected representative’s decision-making responsibilities are, what to expect in the role, remuneration and tips on running a campaign. There will be 37 sessions across Auckland. The local ones are as follows:
• Mahurangi East Library, Friday, June 10, 10am-noon
• Warkworth Library, Friday, June 10, 2pm-4pm
• Wellsford Library, Friday, June 17, 10am- noon
Local government elections will be held in October and the process of inviting residents to put their names forward as candidates is about to start.
In Mahurangi, voters will be choosing a Mayor to replace Phil Goff, who is not seeking re-election, the one Rodney representative on Auckland Council’s Governing Body, and the four northern Rodney Local Board members.
As of last week, there were 10 candidates in the Mayoralty race. They were Viv Beck, Heart of the City chief executive; Gary Brown, Hibiscus and Bays Local Board chair; Wayne Brown, former Mayor of Far North; Efeso Collins, Auckland Councillor; Ted Johnston, 2019 mayoral candidate and co-leader of the New Conservative Party; Jake Law, grandson of former Rodney Mayor John Law; John Lehmann, businessman; Craig Lord, 2019 mayoral candidate; Leo Molloy, businessman; and Michael Morris, Animal Justice candidate.
Rodney’s representative on the Governing Body, Councillor Greg Sayers, has confirmed he will seek a third term. So far, he is unopposed.
The Local Board’s Warkworth subdivision has three representatives – Beth Houlbrooke, who is standing down after three terms; Steven Garner and Tim Holdgate. So far, only Holdgate has confirmed he will stand again. The Wellsford subdivision has one representative, a seat currently held by Colin Smith, who is standing again.
In Mangawhai, Kaiwaka and Otamatea, eligible voters will be choosing a Kaipara Mayor, three representatives for the Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Ward, two for the Otamatea Ward and one for the new Te Moananui.o Kaipara (Maori Ward).
The current Mayor Dr Jason Smith has not confirmed yet whether he will stand again. In the Mangawhai-Kaiwaka Ward, Peter Wethey is standing down, while incumbent Jonathan Larsen will seek another term. Deputy Mayor Anna Curnow is switching from the Otamatea Ward to also stand in Mangawhai-Kaiwaka. Mark Vincent is the other Otamatea representative.
