Bye bye by election?
LOCAL ELECTORAL ACT 2001
Apparently GK Taylor is negotiating with his new employer (The Halberg Trust in Auckland) to be able to continue his Wanganui Council duties.
We've already got a very part-time mayor, a spectral councillor and an invisible community board member, thanks.
A helpful commenter posted the relevant bits of the Act:
So, since we're more than 12 months out from the next election, paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 don't apply. The Council cannot simply appoint someone to a vacancy, or resolve not to fill it, but must hold an election. Wonder whose idea it is that GK become a commuting councillor, rather than risk disrupting the Diva's cosy majority with a by-election which might lead to someone - gasp - independently minded getting chosen? His, or the Diva's?
117.Extraordinary vacancy in local authority or community board—
(1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a member of a local authority or in the office of an elected member of a community board more than 12 months before the next triennial general election, the vacancy must be filled by an election under this Act.
(2) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a member of a local authority or in the office of an elected member of a community board 12 months or less than 12 months before the next triennial general election, the [chief executive] of the local authority concerned must notify the local authority or community board of the vacancy immediately.
(3) On receiving notice under subsection (2), the local authority or community board must, at its next [meeting (other than an extraordinary meeting)] or, if that is not practicable, at its next subsequent [meeting (other than an extraordinary meeting)], determine by resolution— (a) that the vacancy will be filled by the appointment by the local authority or community board of a person named in the resolution who is qualified to be elected as a member; or
(4) If for any reason the person specified in the resolution is unavailable, or otherwise unable to be notified of the appointment, a further vacancy occurs in that office.
(b) that the vacancy is not to be filled.
We doubt many other towns would countenance someone living, not merely just outside their boundaries, but in Auckland, sitting round their Council table. While there's a few MPs who don't live in the electorates they represent - at least when they first stand - councillors have to be more intimately familiar with the area. They need to know where the potholes are, what day the rubbish is collected, how good the art gallery is, whether the swimming pool needs work...
Do the decent thing, GK. If you're going to pursue opportunities in Auckland (and good luck to you if you do), then leave the Diva to reap what he's sown. You - and Wanganui - deserve better than your popping down every month or so to vote on matters you understand only second hand.
Free polls from Pollhost.com
Comments on this post are now closed. The poll remains open.
85 comments:
Dear Michael
That's so sad about GK but please, please pick me if you need a candidate for the byelection.
Love
Morgs
Yeah, Morgs is electable, eh Mickey? And he brings his own lubricant.
Speaking of candidates etc I heard Ross M-A is going to be National Radio's arts programme at 4.30-5pm today.
Can't you just see it now:
GK: Thank you Michael, I'm very flattered that you've asked me to continue my council duties from afar and because of my undying devotion to this great city of Wanganui I have considered this very carefully and have decided to do just about anything, no matter how obscene, to save you the ignomy of a byelection and the inevitable thrashing/trashing of diVision.
I will of course give my council salary to the charity of your choice, Michael.
Dear GK
Slavish devotion is always rewarded. You may keep your salary, but we'll tell the voters you're giving it up, just like we do with mine.
Your leader
Michael
So does anybody know if there is any way to force them to have a byelection - a REAL referendum, say?
I daresay only GK can do that. Which he should, or Direct Democracy will be exposed as the sham that it is.
Michael Laws' election promise: I will use my high profile to promote Wanganui, especially the arts.
Wanganui artists' post-election promise: We will use our high national profile and the respect in which we are held nationally, and the contempt the media have for Michael Laws, to dump on him at every opportunity.
Here's Potter Ross Mitchell-Anyon on National Radio just now explaining the tableau he has taken to Wellington as guest exhbitior at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Art's Winter Exhibition, opening this evening:
RM-A: Of course Michael is completely different (from the concerned citizens) he’s a deranged cactus that sits below a mesmerising machine or a machine that blinds people to the obvious.
INTERVIEWER: How does he suck people into that celebrity vortex that he’s brought down on Wanganui
R M-A: Wanganui was vulnerable to someone like this coming along and telling us we’re all brain dead and destroying an incredibly well thought out project like the gallery extension.
Michael needed Wanganui more than Wanganui needed Michael.
The cactus is prickly in more than one way - Cactus Man has this sort of demonic appearance and he has this large growth coming from between his feet - it seems to be something ML is fond of talking about.
ML is similar to the cactus because after Hawke’s Bay he drooped and slumped and came back to life when he found Wanganui desperately needing him
I wanted to portray the councillors as being something a little bit more earthy because most of them are good people and I feel sorry for them
I think ML will be a one term mayor frankly, I think that the bulk of Wanganui people will, by the time his term is up, realise they’ve made a mistake. And part of my job is to help people see that.
Go Ross!
Yeah right wankers. Laws will piss in at the next election and when he does ... I hope you all relocate to somewhere that suits your IQ. Hokitika is nice, they say.
GK Taylor could do a better job as a councillor in one SECOND than everything that has come before him. He will still live in Wanganui, dudes. And work in Wellington, Auckland, Sydney. So does our mayor. It's called joining the 21st century. Great for Wanganui because it shows we're a new Nelson or a new Hawke's Bay.
You know the sad thing? Michael Laws will fly in as mayor if he chooses to stand in 2007. We may loathe but Wanganui doesn't. I discovered this depressing news when I talk to non-arts people and it does depress me.
Who's the spectral (not specteral) councillor? Ray Stevens??
In my heart I hope anon is wrong about Law's re-election chances. But I can testify to the fact that the less than literates worship the prick.
So does anybody know if there is any way to force them to have a byelection - a REAL referendum, say?
From the (vanished from the net) diVision Wanganui Democracy Policy:
Citizens themselves may institute a district-wide referendum if 10% or over of those enrolled on the Wanganui District Council electoral roll gather the requisite signatures. Any subsequent referendum held would be binding upon the council (provided that the outcome did not breach any government legislation or legal guidelines).
I can feel a petition coming on. Of course, Laws can argue that GK has democratic right to a job other than councillor. It's a lot of work though. If I were the Halberg foundation I'd be worried about my employee being a little thinly stretched.
Oh, we're a new Hawkes Bay alright.
Anonymous said...
I can testify to the fact that the less than literates worship the prick.
5:28 PM
So the answer is remedial reading.
The fact is that anyone with an "arts candidate" profile will be targeted for Laws' smears. I'm doubtful that there'll be a by-election personally. And perhaps it will be better if the full horror of the Vision trainwreck gets three years to really put the remedial readers off.
I'd like to see GK's report card before I dismiss him. He's been fairly capable, and he seems to find Laws' bufoonery quite tiresome at times. There was a rumour that he was one of the rebels that Bob Walker shoehorned back into the bunch late last year.
Spread the butter thinner and thinner,
Nicki Higgie's onto a winner,
With meetings by email,
And Vision in denial,
Wanganui'll get eaten for dinner.
That's a tough one. If goes there will be trouble. If he stays there will be double.
Anonymous said...
Yeah right wankers. Laws will piss in at the next election and when he does ... I hope you all relocate to somewhere that suits your IQ. Hokitika is nice, they say.
5:12 PM
Your intolerance is a handicap Wanganui can ill afford. It will damage our economy, our culture and the prospects here for our children.
Things to do this weekend.....
Err, visit the sarjeant? isnt no one going there how this all started????
Do you really think that the only people that oppose the vision team are arts supporters??
Best you think again. This blog is a great forum for everybody to voice their opinion, trying to spin it as as an unhappy arts group having a rant really does you a disservice.
The oft repeated lie that "no-one goes to the Sarjeant" is just that: a lie. I visit every weekend and there are always people there. Isn't it wonderful how half the debate on these issues is made up of lies. The reason of course, is that unless you stick to lies there's nothing negative you can say. Since negativity is your religion, that leaves you in a bit of a bind, doesn't it?
Anon said:
"...trying to spin it as as an unhappy arts group having a rant really does you a disservice."
Telling lies about Michael getting "cleared", that really does you a disservice too. And the malice in many of Lawsmob posts, that does you a disservice, but your half-bright divisive "policies", they do Wanganui a disservice
Anon said:
"It may be bad form for the mayor to shun Japanese hospitality but just think of the damage he would do to international relations if he decided to go travelling."
What happened to the showcase of Japanese things that used to be in the council foyer? When I asked about them, the woman behind the counter replied sullenly "New mayor didn't like them". This was about two weeks in. The asshole started doing damage and causing trouble as soon as he started in the job.
Anon said: The oft repeated lie that "no-one goes to the Sarjeant" is just that: a lie. I visit every weekend and there are always people there. Isn't it wonderful how half the debate on these issues is made up of lies. The reason of course, is that unless you stick to lies there's nothing negative you can say. Since negativity is your religion, that leaves you in a bit of a bind, doesn't it?
GET A LIFE MORON !! I support the arts too - it was an attempt (obviously poor) at humour! The list was there and it seemed funny at the time. No wonder Vision have it so easy.
And lying about how often you visit doesnt help...
I visit the Sarjeant every week. Sometimes more than once. Accusing me of lying about it hardly supports your assertion that you're an arts supporter, but I'll take your word for it. Arts supporters repeating Michael's lies would have to be shooting their own feet off, surely.
Ahh a female.
Only a woman would link an accusation of lying into whether a person supports the arts. My girlfriend makes these leaps of faith between fidelity and coming home drunk at 2 in the morning!
Well, the Chron may have its head in the sandhills over GK, but it was good to see this morning that it hasn't lost its fascination with animal crackups. Perhaps in lieu of the real issues it could inject some local body flavour into its shaggy dog stories:
LawsMob on lookout for Scruffy
06.08.2005
Michael Laws is hoping inquiries by LawsMob in Wanganui will lead to the return of his much-loved councillor, Scruffy.
She was last seen hopping into a car with LawsWatch number plates outside 101 Guyton St last night. There has been no sign of vehicle or councillor since then.
LawsMob members offered their help after learning of Mr Laws distress at losing Scruffy. The Mob, which reputedly has a soft spot for councillors, is not unknown to her.
Mr Laws told the Chronicle yesterday he appreciated the Mob’s assistance.
“I feel so empty,” he said. “She frets when I’m not with her. She went everywhere with me. She should have been home by now. I miss her so much.”
The Norrish/Higgie bichon cross was described by her owner as “a little white fluffy thing” wearing a blue jacket and a tag.
“I’m offering a week’s mayoral salary for her safe return,” sobbed her distressed owner.
You're a sad lot, aren't you? Because you've achieved little in your own lives you've decided that everyone else must pay for it. I doubt more than 25 people visit this site (if the polls are any indication) and shock ... you can vote more than once on them because all those polls have a 24 hour clearance ... so that probably means less than 25. Disgruntled arts supporters who have no power, no influence and no life.
And as fot Mitchell/Anyon standing for council - what a joke. He's unelectable - had 4 goes before he polled as the lowest successful in 2002 and then arseholed out and finished 17th in the urban award. Now he writes sad pathetic letters to the Chronicle about how crap his life is. He has NO show.
Anon: You're a sad lot, aren't you? ...... no influence and no life.
Oh your right - I see it all now... oh my god the truth really hurts!!! I think i will throw myself under this bus now - I am just soooo depressed.
Then again I must just say Bog Off Big Ears, if your life is so fulfilling what are you doing in this blog on a Saturday afternoon and the sun is shining. According to you I'm here because I am a loser - whats your excuse?
This is fun and all, garnering more examples of the small mindedness of Lawsmob, but perhaps it's time to get serious for a while.
Council - Monday, August 8 (Note: Change of venue - Committee Room 2)
The Council will consider the reports from all Committee meetings in July. Some of the major items likely to be discussed include the Council's new committee structure, Community Contracts process, Whanganui River Road sealing project, Wanganui Port development, Whanganui District Health Board Strategic Plan, review of Maori representation.
So, they're going to talk about the screw-up with the harbour committee (specialist/standing), Wanganui's failure to keep its word on the river road, a bunch of spin about health care funding (which Laws hasn't quite managed to wrap his mind around yet - these poor arts graduates and their limited maths skills), Michael's foray into large scale industrial development projects (wait a second, councillor...). Then to put the icing on the cake, Michael can emphasise his new kaumatua status with the local iwi, ngati Laws.
Boooring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it was more fun when everyone just swore at each other!
oh yeah - i forgot... you multi issue nutter you
Anon said (secretly worshipping Joseph Goebbels):
You're a sad lot, aren't you? Because you've achieved little in your own lives you've decided that everyone else must pay for it...
What's the matter? Job getting you down? No colour in your life? Having trouble thinking creatively? Jealous of talented people? Destroy what you don't understand, you'll feel so much better.
So, several weeks ago Lawsy abused cat lovers in his SST gobshite. Guess who's having a national event in Wanga this weekend: cat lovers. He slagged off opera before their event, Maria Place before theirs, and you have to assume that given his track record, this deliberate hostility to all and sundry who might want to visit this lovely city looks more and more deliberate every day. This fits perfectly with the "leave town" policy of course.
What an asshole.
And when his abuse causes Wanganui's population to shrink even further and our health care funding gets yet smaller, who will he blame? Will any of Lawsmob notice they're being deceived again?
I doubt more than 25 people visit this site (if the polls are any indication)
No, they're not. We don't know why, but the percentage of people who vote in the polls is an infinitesimal percentage of those who visit. Since an anonymous benefactor kindly donated an advertisement in the River City Press, visitor numbers per day have jumped from around 250 to just over 700, FYI.
you can vote more than once on them because all those polls have a 24 hour clearance
No, they have a 365 day clearance. That can be got around by blocking cookies and changing IP addresses, but how many people know how to do that, and could be bothered anyway?
Like it or not, the blog is very well read, reasonably well commented, and the polls, for some reason, poorly responded to. That's the facts, not the spin.
Do you people have a life?!?
Michael Laws is your obsession, isn't he? Without him, none of you would have reason to exist.
Yu do realise the rest of Wanganui - the rest of NZ - is laughing at you. Cue: Paul Holmes piece on Prime on the Code of Conduct whiners. Then the piece on 'Sunday'. Shit, my mother laughed and she's a dyed-in-Havana commie.
Can we not just take the next on the list?
From my reading, if Taylor resigns, council could;
1. take the highest urban ward candidate from 2004 (Margaret Campion);
2. have by-election;
3. appoint by motion;
4. do nothing. (theres a loophole in existing law)
Loophole? Do nothing? Decrease the amount of representation? Well that will be perfect then, and in the true spirit of Direct Democracy.
From my reading of the legislation, there's nothing to say Taylor has to resign. If he's not leaving town, there's nothing to say he should, either. if the job puts too much pressure on him that might change, but so far he's been competent, for a Laws man. Laws is the one who should go.
"From my reading, if Taylor resigns, council could; blah blah blah
You must have been reading the diVision tea leaves. Sorry, but at this early stage in the three-year cycle it's a by-election or nothing.
Which is presumably why the blow-torch is being applied to GK's Y-fronts to get him to be a carpet-bagging councillor. Michael must be pissing himself at the certain propspect diVision getting routed in a by-election.
look, i hate to bring this up again but here is an excerpt from a conference held in april with a session being held by John Hacon from Westgate.
the below is pasted from this web site http://www.visionconferences.co.nz/events/april2005/V041/V041.htm
it would suggest that in april westgate thought they were dealing with the pow group.
11.55 Case Study: Forecasting expansion methods at Westgate Port of Taranaki
• Investing in the future of one of New Zealand’s largest West Coast ports
• Maximising strategies to encourage further shipping lines berthing at Westgate
• The huge increase in coal shipments - how Port of Taranaki will benefit
• Evaluating the merits of becoming involved in the
expansive port and industrial park proposal currently being finalised by the Port of Wanganui group
Jon Hacon, Business Development Manager,
Westgate Port Taranaki
All the lies are coming home to roost,
To give Vision fortunes a boost,
Get rid of the liar,
Chuck the lies in the fire,
Then raise up your glasses for toasts.
GK Taylor can work in auckland, reside in wanganui, commute regularly and retain his councillors position. Ultimately it will be the mayor who decides whats going to happen so I await the Chron story with interest. Its not what Lawswatch does but what Laws and Taylor decide. Ask Rob Vinson & Viv Chapman - theyre on the Sport Wanganui board.
Ask them what?
Ultimately it will be the mayor who decides whats going to happen...
In the true spirit of Direct Democracy: rule rather than serve, and never mind what your constituents think. The sooner he goes the better. GK for mayor!
LYING IS ACCEPTABLE
The Diva treats readers of Sunday Star Times to a little sermon on The Ethics of Michael Brian Laws and declares, yes, he's thought about the rights and wrongs of lying and it's okay, with the itsy-bitsy caveat that the lie should have good intent.
Well, that sets the record straight for those of us who thought he was somehow hard-wired from birth to lie, that it was just what he does, that it's not really under his control.
Of course, having arrived at this philosophical position he then finds it's okay to lie to himself, convince himself that the next lie he tells will have good intent, and away he goes.
Nil rates rise, anyone?
Laws is a self-deceiving asshole. He so good at it, in fact, that if you haven't been paying attention you might vote for him. Perhaps he will now enlighten us by revealing which lies he's told since October.
Oh, and Lawsmob. Your leader tells lies as part of a perfect expression of everything he believes in. Still prepared to defend him?
You dorks will never understand a pisstake cos you've got no sense of humour. Read his SST piece this morning and roared - time for some of you to get a personality bypass. With a GOSH.
Speaking of Nil rates rises, the citizens of Castlecliff will be able to take comfort from the fact that Queen Dotty (let them eat cake) McKinnon is sharing her subjects' pain with a massive nil rates rise (rumoured to be about $12K) on her avenue establishment.
Michael Laws said:
"There is no morality. The concept is simply an excuse for situational ethics. And ethics is just another word for social control. Ethics is nothing more than instilling pre-determined behaviour in people in the hope that they will not go mad. It assumes, rightly, that humankind cannot be trusted. That the world is bereft of self-discipline."
The moral of the story is that ethical behaviour is actually a natural response to the world. Laws reveals his own pathology in the above remarks, while confirming what many here already knew: the truth is not in him. Perhaps he's missing a particular gene?
Michael Laws said:
"Third, lying is acceptable.
"The taboo against bearing false witness causes ethical qualms for everybody every day. We compliment our child's best efforts or our partner's attempts to lose weight and – zap – we're one short step from hell. There should be one simple rule when it comes to lying. If it has a good intent, then it is acceptable."
Tell the judge.
Wankers! Even the context of that latrest anon remarks suggests its a pisstake. Get a sense of humour.
From now on then, at Council meetings, Laws must be made to reveal:
1. Which of his statements are lies.
2. The good intent/hidden agenda behind each lie, so that other people can be as enlightened as him.
3. How much of our money has already been spent on the basis of his lies.
Most of Laws' articles in the SST
are a pisstake but there could be an ulterior motive I guess. To get up the noses of stupid people. And you have more than your fair share in this blog with Carol Webb, Matt Dutton, Ross Manyon etc. Losers United.
Anon put on his rose tinted glasses and spewed:
"Even the context of that latrest anon remarks suggests its a pisstake."
He's taking the piss out of you, then, dupe.
Let's put this in context. Your wife, dissatisfied with your feeble attempts, gets a man. She deceives you for your own good. Dupe.
And none of you have ever lied in your lives, have you? Told your partner (if you have one) that they look OK, praised a child who needs affirmation rather than censure, etc - exactly the concepts he expressed in his SST article. Then read his 4th imperative underneath neath, dorks.
"Good intent is interpreted as what is good for you."
You really are the dumbest bunch - no wonder Laws ran rings around you
at your elections.
Let's see. This could be fun. Let's take a random statement from Michael, assume it's a lie, then play a game where we try to guess the hidden agenda:
"I don't take my salary"
Anyone who believes this is going to feel good about the mayor, and by extension (Michael believes) Wanganui.
That wasn't so hard now, was it?
sorry - should have read -
"Good intent is NOT interpreted as what is good for you."
Although I bet you wished he had said the former - just to satisfy your inanity.
He adds a fifth, by the way. "Be generous"
Beyond this blog, I'd say.
And none of you have ever lied in your lives, have you?
Yes, of course I have. It was destructive divisive and hurtful. It led to a loss of trust between me and my partner that wrecked our marriage. I have since learned that telling the truth sets you free, and furthermore, demonstrates the amazing forgiveness present in human nature. You should try it sometime, your worship.
I love the spell of venom in the morning.
Tell us more about your broken marriage, you sad sack.
And I'll tell YOU the truth as you request - you're pig ugly.
Anon (like someone trying to get a smack in the mouth) said:
Tell us more about your broken marriage...
Well I would, darling, but for the simple fact that this blog isn't about me. It's about the man who wrote this:
"Ethics is nothing more than instilling pre-determined behaviour in people in the hope that they will not go mad."
Which is sad, because ethics are an individuals response to the moral lessons learned in life.
Anon said (laughably)
"And I'll tell YOU the truth as you request - you're pig ugly."
Maybe you're cute. Perhaps you think you're beautiful. Well, watch out, beacause there's a lot more of us ugly motherfuckers out here, and we're gonna getcha!
Yeah, but members of the opposite sex will still avoid you like the plague.
Which is why there is so much hate in this blog - so many sad, desperate and lonely people with nothing better to do in their lives than drag others down to their level of misery.
Anon ... "Queen Dotty (let them eat cake) McKinnon is sharing her subjects' pain with a massive nil rates rise (rumoured to be about $12K) on her avenue establishment."
No wonder she tried so hard to find a lying lawyer so she could make sure she got a REAL nil rates rise!
sad, desperate and lonely Anon said:
...misery...venom...blah blah...
Happy, sated, gregarious, but I still think Michael Laws should resign. Perhaps, instead of showing me your IQ, you could come up with an idea for a change. Creativity too much for you?
Resign for what? He was democratically elected, has a supportive council (including non-Vision xcouncillors like Wills, Stevens & McGregor), is implementing his pre-election promises, and generally giving Wanganui exactly what it asked for - a shake-up.
Resign? The guy should get a medal.
Let's see-
Laws v Sargeant Gallery Trust Board - SGTB resign.
Laws v Code complainants - unanimous rejection of complaints.
Laws v LawsWatch - he's up front,
L/watch is "anonymous".
Yeah, he should resign all right.
I think he should resign because he has mistaken the entire democratic premise, and believes he has been elected to rule, whereas in fact he has been elected to serve. Since his behaviour therefore breaches the LGA (Quadruple bottom line acountability anyone - Vision didn't even know they were supposed to consider them), he is unfit for office. The auditor will judge WDC on means, not ends.
I think he should resign because he thinks lying is acceptable.
Get real! No-one agrees with you Carol/Matt over this quadruple bottom line crap. Certainly not the Audit Office.
And on lying ... who hasn't? And be honest for a change.
Check out the Electoral Act 2001, Sections 120 and 138A. There need not be a by-election, at earliest, until 4 April 2006. That's 8 months away.
And the reality is that he isn't going to resign. In fact, he's going to get re-elected again and again and again.
It was Sue Westwood who pointed out the LGA requirements, but go ahead and blame CarolMatt if it makes you feel better
I don't want GK to go. He can have both jobs and just try to deal with them and mad-dog Laws. HARD WORK!
Yes, I'm pretty conflicted about GK going/staying too. On the one hand it might wreck the "Vision" majority, but on the other he's an asset to Wangas. Unlike his leader.
...praised a child...
exactly the relationship Laws believes he enjoys with the electorate: we are the "children" to whom it is acceptable to lie.
Anonymous said...
GK Taylor can work in auckland, reside in wanganui, commute regularly and retain his councillors position. Ultimately it will be the mayor who decides 10:56 PM
well the mayor must have told him to resign then. Check your Chron.
He's going to stay as a councillor 'til the end of the year. Implications? By-election?
Post a Comment