Under starter's orders

In a straight-to-the-point story on last night's Finance and Administration Committee meeting, the Chron headlines "Sale of donated Sarjeant art not ruled out by Laws". Can't sound a much clearer warning than that.

It won't endear us to some of our readership, but from the LawsWatch secret cave it seems the Wanganui arts community couldn't fairly be described as the most effective political force in town. Not surprising, really... an artistic temperament is probably the antithesis of the qualities that would make a good politician. The closest we can recall an elected official coming to art was Sir Robert Muldoon's fondness for lilies - he couldn't create art, but at least he could appreciate that which can be found in nature.

In the end, the decision on the Sarjeant, like any other matter before Council, will come down to votes. Certainly lobbying has the potential to influence that vote, but there can be no more effective tactic than electing someone who's committed to policies you support. After all, will you be voting for an unknown quantity on 17 September? Or will you back the party whose policies most closely mirror your own opinions?

As some commenters have said, an "arts candidate" would be an easy target for derision. But that doesn't mean a strong candidate whose raft of popular (as opposed to populist) policies included support for the arts wouldn't have a chance.

Over at LawsWatch polls, after gaining a clear lead, John Martin (on 29%) is back to level-pegging with Jodie Dalgleish (on 28%) from a reasonably significant total of 139 votes. The only person who comes close is Carla Donson, back on 15 percent.

If Graeme Taylor leaves Council "by the end of the year" as his Leader has instructed he shall, it's possible Wanganui might be facing a by-election in the midst of summer, when people have better things to think about, like what wine goes well with over-cooked barbeque sausages. That means campaigning probably needs to start in a month or so.

So might we suggest it's time people - particularly Mr Martin and Ms Dalgleish - declared their hands, and people started getting organised? If only one intends to stand, then we'll run a poll to see if support from the other will transfer across.

P.S. LawsWatch intends to offer space to every declared by-election candidate - including anyone put up by Vision - to publish a statement and profile and then, through the comments facility, debate with and answer questions from visitors. We'll also link to any individual website maintained by a candidate.

P.P.S. Over on the General Election poll, Jill Pettis is way out in front with 63 percent, Chester Borrows on 25 percent, (with John Milnes six percent and Debbie Lucas two percent), whilst things look even worse for National in the party vote stakes, with only five percent compared to 50 percent for Labour. Despite asking for party votes not personal votes, Jim Anderton's Progressives are showing no support, and neither are Winston's mob. The Greens are doing well with 21 percent, the Maori Party and the Alliance both have seven percent, the Direct Democracy Party are on five percent (so someone likes referenda!) and Destiny NZ and the Libertarianz are both on two percent.

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