They're lining up...
The buy-election field on the right just got even more crowded. And as the day for final nominations draws near (December 23 - also the last day to get on the roll if you're not already - which can be done by going to the elections website) it's likely more candidates will come out of the woodwork.
Latest to throw his wheelbarrow in the ring is none other than one Bren Sinclair - definitely a candidate of the errr, loopy Right. Mr Sinclair is a car wrecker who had his 15 minutes of fame in the RCP last year pushing his wheelbarrow around to oppose the Civil Union Bill. Watchers put their minds to figuring how a wheelbarrow related in Mr Sinclair's mind to the topic of civil unions and quickly began travelling down a road involving the "wheelbarrow races" of our youth... and decided to stop right there.
We await, as some commenters have predicted, the arrival of Frog to bring some balance as candidate du jour of the substance-affected Left. With a field clustered with right-leaning candidates likely to vote-split, it's entirely possible that - as some commenters have gleefully predicted - a Frog campaign might emerge victorious. If he can be found, that is. And can recall salient facts - such as his name and address to put on the nomination form.
So, to recap, so far we've got:
- Allan Anderson (former National candidate, Federated Farmers president, rural conservative, Anglican, family values)
- Margaret Campion (widow of former National MP Cam, community focus, president of Alzheimer's Wanganui, immediate past presidentof Zonta, a member of the Whanganui District Health Board community disability support advisory committee and Performing Arts Trust Board, international secretary for the National Council of Women NZ, arts supporter etc.)
- Mark Simmonds (ex Chamber of Commerce president, business owner, capable of "studied belligerence", thought to have National Party affiliations)
- Bren Sinclair (God's barrow pusher)
- Morgs Hunter-Bell (Rebel without a Laws (maybe?), always keen to put the boot in to the Sarjeant, artists and mayoral critics)
- Someone from diVision perhaps (the Diva's frantically working down the alphabetical list, hoping to find someone willing to be associated with him. Zebedee is unfortunately committed to another series of the Magic Roundabout. Zorro, meanwhile, has switched off his mobile.)
As we've stated in the past, we'll be offering all the candidates - yes, even Mr Sinclair, and Frog, if he emerges - a spot on the LawsWatch Buy-Election Blog, to profile themselves, state their policies and debate the issues with visitors. We won't endorse anyone, but will endeavour to help make the process as transparent as possible - because unlike diVision's pre-election website, the Buy-Election Blog won't disappear after the votes are cast. What the victorious candidate says will remain on the permanent record, against which their behaviour as a Councillor may be assessed.
Meanwhile, it seems there's a campaign, extending well beyond LawsWatch, to use the buy-election to attack various people for not standing. As well as numerous comments (most of which we've allowed, a few of which we've rejected) there are anonymous calls to Chronvox pop polls, Letters to the Editor (hopefully he'll check that the writers exist this time) and a phone call to at least one person's home at the weekend, from some brave person with a blocked number and a made-up name. A week, they say, is a long time in politics. For some residents of Wanganui the noxious climate created by the Diva means the two months or so between now and polling day are unfortunately going to seem very long indeed.
Comments on this post are now closed.
22 comments:
Yes, where is the Vision candidate? Getting embarrassing. Do you suppose they're squabbling over who it should be? Or waiting for the Diva-divined "perfect moment" to announce.
I saw the submission Margaret Campion made on behalf of NCW on the annual plan and it was a very good critique of Vision policy.
Furthermore, NCW actually spoke out via the Chron about the shennanigans over the way Taylor's resignation was stalled to allow the buy-election to become just another sideshow in mickey's summer events programme.
I don't think there's any sentimental attachment to mickey lingering from his days as Cam's sidekick.
Isn't it weird all the 'right centre' have put their hands up to be the anti vote. .. The Nat's don't like him, Labour can't stand him and he just makes any intelligent person smile in disbelief. Poor ML so unloved.
Ooohhh, is Margaret Campion the arts candidate then? She's nothing but a single issue fanatic malcontent nutter. Yah boo sucks to her.
That was a party political message on behalf of Vision Wanganui.
I don't think Margaret Campion is anybody's fool. Least of all mblaws'. On the other hand, are all the leftwing candidates hiding their lights as well as the Vision candidate?
Hot tip: Vision are supporting Mark Simmonds.
Mickey,
Please please please put Bob Walker up
Muzza can teach him how to put his hand up really really fast when you give the nod. Dot can teach him all about praising you in public and dealing with the humiliation that it brings. Nikki can teach you how to nod sagely at your words, and Marty and Sue can teach you how to keep your head down and tick the days off till you can get out if there with some sort of credibility in tact.
You forgot Rangi, anon.
Rangi could teach Bob lots of nice new Maori fake names for his next poison pen letter writing campaign.
WHERE is the anti-Laws candidate?
Cam Campion and the mayor were best mates, (& the NCW submission wasn't written by Margaret), Simmonds and Anderson are Nats, Hunter is a youth acolyte and Bren Sinclair ... now there's the answer. Sinclair has to be LW's choice because he's a fundamentalist Xtian & we all know how the mayor feels about them.
Seriously though, Laws is going to just count all the above as pluses around the council table. They won't fight.
Hot tip: Vision are supporting Mark Simmonds.
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Well, that makes everyone then. We'll all vote him in and see if he stays true to his word.
Bob's picking up in the polls, maybe he wouldn't be such a bad candidate for Vision, go on, give him a try Mr Mayor.
Haven't we still got a week to go? It will be interesting to see what next week brings regarding candidates. Oh what a big split vote we will have.
The Marky come-lately-Dicks-Dot mate will do hard to steal Campions cred, on the right.
But, realistically, the fuckwit Laws is too sensitive to criticism. He's painted himself and his dwarves into a corner.
Hot tip: Vision are supporting...
___________________________________
That must be a lie. Vision? Support something? The only thing they've supported so far is their own demise, unless you count their blatant attempts to divide Wanganui and set us against one another. You might as well claim "vision stands for nothing".
A nil rates rise this year, but a 12% rates rise next year. That is the legacy of the Mickey Party.
Bob Walker would flounce home. Mickey shouldn't be so picky.
Anon 12.04am
Why would you say Vision have divided Wanganui. Most of us are more than happy with what has happened since the elections. A few malcontents are not. Hardly division on a big scale.
A nil rates rise this year, but a 12% rates rise next year. That is the legacy of the Mickey Party.
12:04 AM, December 17, 2005
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What sort of sad social life is this above? Posting after midnight? The mayor's right about single-issue nutters.
To summarise LawsWatch:
1. Vision don't have a candidate in the by-election.
2. An unnamed rural person and Philippa Baker have turned them down.
3. Any Vision candidate would lose.
Is that an accurate precis, LW??
Are you telling us Mickey that the chairman of the vision party, Big Bad Bob is not good enough to stand for the election?
Go on, put him up
Leonies blithering gets pretty well mauled by the Chron today. Good on them for publishing the rebuttal, which shows her up as a part timer just like Mickey. She's a waste of space. I wonder how they knew what she'd say?
:)
anon: "the NCW submission wasn't written by Margaret"
PROVE IT!!!!!
Is that an accurate precis, LW??
It's an accurate precis of the rumours brought to this blog by various commenters, yes.
1. Last time we checked, no avowed Vision candidate was standing. That doesn't mean that some of those whose names are presently in the ring wouldn't mostly or competely support Vision if elected, as does Rangi Wills.
2. We've heard that a number of people, including Phillipa Baker-Hogan, have declined to stand. While the information has come from several different sources in each case, it's still just a rumour unless and until someone involved confirms or denies.
3. We've never said any Vision candidate would lose (though some commenters have). Given Vision's performance to date, the sensible strategy would be to not stand anyone under their banner, but to quietly support a seemingly independent stalking horse who'd go along with Mickey's meisterplan once elected.
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