Scratched
Well it seems Morgs Hunter-Bell's flirtation with politics is over as quickly as it began, with his nomination never making it to the Council's electoral officer. A race with so many candidates was more expensive to run than one with three, he said. Though we're not entirely sure how that arithmetic works, we must admit to a pang of regret here in the LawsWatch cave. Morgs is always willing to front up and be accountable even when, since he's not an elected official, he doesn't have to. And his campaign would have been the most entertaining of the race, of that we're sure.
Money is, of course, a significant issue for those considering a run for local office - especially since, unlike in a General Election, candidates can pretty much spend whatever they like. The Diva's oft-repeated preferred option, of having unpaid councillors, only places an ever greater barrier in front of those who work for a living or who, like stay-at-home parents, the unemployed, the disabled or the retired - may be on fixed incomes. But then that's democracy Diva-style.
In sharp contrast to Morgs, Tuffy Churton is one of two late-comers to the Rural Community Board line-up, the other being rural real estate agent Clive Gibbard. Mr Churton, Watchers will remember, displayed a distinct unwillingness to answer questions put to him over the Port of Wanganui issue earlier this year.
Aside from that, the line-up is as per our previous post. All the WDC candidates either have, or will shortly, receive their invitations to participate in the LawsWatch Buy-Election Blog, coming soon to a website near you.
Comments on this post are now closed.
20 comments:
Morgs, there's a limit to how much a candidate can spend. But what's the limit on how much a private organisation, say, a company, can spend promoting a candidate? "Vision Wanganui" for example, spent about $2,500 per candidate according to each of their returns. The individual spend of each candidate is well within the allowed maximum. Below $10k, in every case, but when they're spending that cash from a pool, and they're allowed to have campaign contributions too...
Then there's Michael. He can write columns in the national press, let alone the local ad-rags, pushing the Vision "agenda", and it isn't even counted as a campaign expense at all. Which leads me to a joke:
Mayoral critic: Michael, what do you say to people who accuse you of constant electioneering?
Michael: VOTE FOR ME!!!
Merry Christmas, ho ho ho, etc. This is a sad city when our own Mayor can't run down the street on Xmas day without some drunken lout running after him calling out to him. Get a grip people, give the man a break on Xmas Day at least. They were too far away from me to say something to the guy, but I was ashamed when I saw this yesterday morning.
heres a thought - get a job!
Yes I agree it's a shame, but when you're as abusive as Mickey it comes with the territory. Pity the drunk couldn't run faster.
I was ashamed when I saw this yesterday morning.
7:05 AM, December 26, 2005
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I'd be ashamed too. The Mayor was in Wellington on Xmas Day because I saw him there. Get a pair of glasses!
Jimmy Barnes Concert = outstanding success. Underwritten by Council with a new board of trustees handpicked. Comments, LawsWatch?
What an amazing man being in two places at once. It was definitely Michael being pursued by a drunk man with a funny name.
The Chronicle front page today. Great story for Wanganui, the city is buzzin'. Now be negative about THAT!
Anonymous said...
I was ashamed when I saw this yesterday morning.
7:05 AM, December 26, 2005
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I'd be ashamed too. The Mayor was in Wellington on Xmas Day because I saw him there. Get a pair of glasses!
I must say, LawsWatch, this is very impressive. Wherever the mayor goes the ****** guy seems to follow.
Anonymous said...
I was ashamed when I saw this yesterday morning.
7:05 AM, December 26, 2005
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I'd be ashamed too. The Mayor was in Wellington on Xmas Day because I saw him there. Get a pair of glasses!
Since this very well-informed commenter knows the mayoral morning movements (no not THOSE ones) so intimately, can he/she please tell us what time the mayoral motorcade departed the River City? Thank you.
Strange goings-on at the bottom of page one today. Just what is Muzza trying to tell us about Mr Janes, do ya think?
Since the ***** guy has such an uncanny knack of being everywhere the mayor is, can he please tell us how the Vision campaign launch at the mayor and mayoress's pad went?
Of course LW could always check with Mark Lundy (or maybe the PM) to see just how fast the mayoral motorcade would cover the distance between Wanga and Welly. Perhaps he'll confirm it IS possible to be in two places at once.
Oh dear. Is this what LW has descended to? Phantom sightings & irrelevancies. Contrast with this mayor & council backing the Boxing Day bash and getting great national coverage. Don't let these pygmies hold you back, Mr Mayor (we know they won't but that's just for their benefit). :)
Just a note on Morgs saying how he figures he can get things done without joining the inmates in the WDC asylum ...
One thing he could only do by putting his name up as a candidate is perhaps encourage the yoof voters (especially first-timers) to take an interest in local politics and maybe even get interested enough to look behind mickey's smoke and mirrors.
What do you reckon about that, Morgs?
Perhaps that was the Ghost of Christmases Past chasing the mayor. A funny name? Wasn't Antoinnette Beck in disguise was it? If so, no wonder he headed south at high speed.
Y'know, Wellington is only 3:00 hours tops from Wanganui by car, 40 mins by plane. Isn't it possible that Mickey was running in Wanganui and seen in Wellington on the same day?
I must say, good grief Muzza I've seen cak-handed bullying of public appointees but this takes the cake. So on the one hand the sale (of part of our share in Wanganui Gas) is inevitable, on the other it was "wrong" of Ron to say so now, but Muzza thinks we should buy the lot. There's a granny knot in Muzza's argument. It's the Vision Party's ill-thought out policy that is driving the demand for cash now. Murray, can I call you Murray? Puleeze! It's only inevitable if you vote for it.
can he please tell us how the Vision campaign launch at the mayor and mayoress's pad went?
2:58 PM, December 28, 2005
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It is to be hoped that no cucumber sandwiches went to waste because if there's one thing this mayoress does know about, it's the cost of a sandwich.
morgs said: ... most politicians are fakes, liars and cheats.
Yes, but most politicians don't fake, lie and cheat on their critics' blogs like your favourite politician does in here, Morgs.
Anonymous said...
can he please tell us how the Vision campaign launch at the mayor and mayoress's pad went?
2:58 PM, December 28, 2005
*****
That's funny. It seems the mayor's alter ego doesn't want to talk about this.
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