Wellington City mayoral election, 2016

The 2016 Wellington City mayoral election will be part of the New Zealand local elections and will be held on 8 October. The incumbent is Celia Wade-Brown, who was first elected in the 2010 mayoral election. Wade-Brown is challenged by her deputy, Justin Lester, and first-term councillor Nicola Young.

Candidates

Wade-Brown, who is standing for a third term as mayor, is facing serious competition by her deputy, Justin Lester, and by right-wing councillors Nicola Young and Jo Coughlan.[1][2]

Celia Wade-Brown

Wade-Brown was first elected as a Wellington City Councillor in 1994 and apart from a three-year break served on council until she was elected mayor in the 2010 election.[3] Whilst she has always stood as an independent during her mayoralty, she is generally associated with the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, and The Dominion Post commented that "everything about her shouts 'Green'".[1]

Jo Coughlan

Coughlan was first elected as Councillor for the Onslow-Western ward in 2007.[2] Previously, Coughlan gave serious consideration to running for Mayor in the 2013 election.[4] She has ties to the National Party: she was a press secretary for Sir Don McKinnon while he was serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and is sister-in-law to current Deputy Prime Minister, Bill English.[2][4]

Keith Johnson

Johnson, the only candidate not an already established member of the council, announced his candidacy in April 2016.[5]

Nick Leggett

Leggett has been the mayor of Porirua City since 2010. In March 2016, he announced he would not stand in the upcoming local body elections, hinting at running in the election for mayor in Wellington City.[6] In April, Leggett confirmed his intention to stand.[7]

Justin Lester

Lester was first elected as a Wellington City Councillor in 2010.[8] When mayors were given the ability to choose their deputy without involving councillors after the 2013 election, Wade-Brown chose Lester.[1] Lester is running on a Labour Party ticket.[8]

Nicola Young

Young was first elected in 2013. She originally stood for the city council only, but then also nominated herself for the mayoralty.[9] Of the six mayoral candidates, she came fourth.[10] Young is an Independent councillor; she formerly stood for the National Party in the 2005 general election in Wellington's Rongotai electorate. Her father was the former cabinet minister Bill Young, and former National list MP Annabel Young is her sister.[1][11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hubbard, Anthony (7 November 2015). "Contenders line up for 2016 Wellington mayoral race". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Forbes, Michael (2 April 2016). "Councillor Jo Coughlan enters the race to be Wellington's mayor". Stuff. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "New mayor for Wellington". The Dominion Post. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  4. 1 2 Chapman, Katie (6 March 2013). "Concert promoter considers mayoralty bid". Stuff. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Six in race to be Wellington's mayor". Radio NZ. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "Nick Leggett stands down as Porirua mayor". Dominion Post. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Capital 'stalled at the lights', says Nick Leggett as he launches mayoralty bid". Dominion Post. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Wellington deputy Justin Lester runs against incumbent Mayor Celia Wade-Brown". The Dominion Post. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Cleland, Johanna (9 October 2013). "Young answers the call because politics runs in her blood". Newswire.co.nz. Whitireia New Zealand. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  10. ↑ Inggs, Charlie (16 October 2013). "2013 Triennial Election: declaration of results" (PDF). Wellington City Council. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  11. ↑ Orsman, Bernard (15 September 2005). "The candidates who stand to lose". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
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