The ship of State...
...must be sinking, if the rats are leaving so quickly.
LawsWatch hears, from normally reputable sources, that none other than Graeme "GK" Taylor is to depart both the Council and Wanganui. He's probably the Diva's staunchest and most able ally.
So, will there be a by-election?
Next highest polling candidate is former councillor Margaret Campion, who definitely won't be a forelock-tugger. Her Annual Plan submissions would not have pleased the Diva, and apparently he walked out while she was speaking.
And if there is going to be a by-election, could it be that Sue Pepperell might decide it was a good time to go gracefully?
Who would Vision put up? Not Bob Walker, surely.
More as it comes to hand, as they say...
More: Described by Laws as "an old friend of mine from Hawke’s Bay days when he was coach of a very fine first division Hawke’s Bayteam, and I was the local MP. That he has come to reside in Wanganui – and that he is chief executive of SportWanganui – is a real fillip for our region". So what does it indicate if he's decided to turn his back on the place?
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29 comments:
Holy GK, Batman!
So who knows what the local government act says about byelections etc at this stage in the cycle?
Hey, this looks like a LawsWatch scoop to me. So, can we look forward to grovelling apologies from this morning's whingers and moaners, do you think?
Like this one, you mean?
Anonymous said...
"There's nothing here so far that I couldn't pick up from a combination of the Chronicale or the WDC website"
yes, but what if its not true?
Chron just needs to ask GT, go Sean ....
Let's get a grip: if Taylor resigns as CEO of Sport Wanganui & takes a new job - even based elsewhere - it would not mean a by-election. For example, he's already a rural resident but was elected from an urban ward. You don't need to RESIDE in an electorate to be voted in there. As it is, his wife is something to do with training and they have property here so he could work in Wellington, reside here at the weekends and still do all his council duties. I was looking at the Council website last week and what a doddle of a job! They meet at 4pm on six weekly cycles and you only get to be on 3 committees during that cycle!! I'm in the wrong job.
So, unfortunately, no by-election. Yeah but what if ... who would stand? Losing councillors like Mitchell-Anyon (no, too unpopular),
John Martin (came second in the mayoralty so has the profile), Margaret Campion (came 10th - a bit quiet for me), or activists like Matt (Dutton - love to see him stand) or say Ken Mair??
C'mon friends - IF THERE WAS A BY-ELECTION ... who would be the ideal arts candidate???
A scoop. Something that no-one else knows. That Graeme Taylor is heading off from Sport Wanganui was told to me at a very boozy wedding over the weekend. I also heard a story about the mayor and mayoress ...
Good question and for the first time worthy of a response.
So here goes and all you flamers better not flame me.
If I was an arts candidate, I'd choose Ross M-A. Honest, dependable, took on Laws BEFORE he was mayor, and a proven supporter of the extension.
Ross - if it ever happens - stand, my friend. Wanganui knows it made a mistake and your re-entry would BURN the Philistines.
Agree. Mitchell-Anyon is the man.
"A scoop. Something that no-one else knows. That Graeme Taylor is heading off from Sport Wanganui was told to me at a very boozy wedding over the weekend. I also heard a story about the mayor and mayoress ... "
Piss off dork. I wonder why Michael didn't share it then, with those Wanganui salt-of-the-earth types not lucky enough to be the wedding of which you speak, in the interests of openness, democracy, blah blah blah. Come to think of it, why doesn't he put the story of which you speak, re the mayor and mayoress, on the WDC scandal rag?
Ha. Dream on. I have no political ambition beyond that we get some competent ones. Politicians, that is.
My money is on him resigning from council as well as Sport Wanga.
Well dickhead, that will be down to me attending a wedding that the mayor didn't. Hey shit-for-brains - deal with it.
Of course you have no political ambitions, Matt. You're unelectable.
LOCAL ELECTORAL ACT 2001
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
(b)that the vacancy is not to be filled.
(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.
That's presupposing Graeme Taylor resigns. He doesn't need to. But s 3(b) worries me - the council can simply appoint. Vision control council, ask for candidates, interview and then select. Argue that they're saving the $40,000 cost of a by-election and populism delivers them a ready made replacement. Scary isn't it. Unlike ANY OTHER COUNCIL in NZ, one group controls Wanganui. Amazing.
Unelectable? Like you're some sort of benchmark. ROFLMAO
"But s 3(b) worries me - the council can simply appoint."
No, if you read it closely s 3 (b) to appoint refers back to s2 so it only applies if the vacancy occurs "12 months or less than 12 months before the next triennial general election"
It looks like only s1 can apply here, because it's more than 12 months BEFORE the next election, ie
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.
Thanks for that. But Taylor could live in Wellington, commute to meetings and still stay a councillor, couldn't he? If that Ranginui guy can live in Iraq ...
What's ROFLMAO Matt? Have you gone all dyslexic?
Admittedly I've never stood for anything but then I'm not appointing myself as some judge of others either. Put your principles where your mouth is Dutton. Put yourself up at the next election (or by election) and see how many votes you get.
I hear Castlecliff are throwing GT a leaving party to thank him for their nil rates rise
GK not GT, you wanker.
ROFLMAO
Rolling On Floor Laughing My Ass Off. It's so nice to be able to provide a service once in a while
Some bully said:
"Put your principles where your mouth is Dutton. Put yourself up at the next election (or by election) and see how many votes you get."
You're going to have to ask me a lot nicer than that. And the answer will still be no. If you want to participate in a popularity contest go ahead.
Nothing in the Chron. this morning. Did they miss the deadline or has someone been pulling our chain (again).
Nothing in the Chron. this morning.
Your faith in the Chron is touching. Do you really believe that nothing happens unless it appears in the Chron?
Wake up and smell the pong emanating from 101 Guyton St.
"Your faith in the Chron is touching."
Faith???? Oh, now that's funny. Read my post.."did they miss the deadline?"
An old paper trying hard to keep up (goad goad). Better now?
"They meet at 4pm on six weekly cycles and you only get to be on 3 committees during that cycle!! I'm in the wrong job."
Have you seen how much information they're supposed to wade through and get familiar with for each meeting? No wonder Laws manipulates the Vision babies so easily.
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