Where to for the 2013-2016 Term of Auckland Council
This from The Herald was rather telling:
Photo / Greg Bowker. Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11139291
That aside this is what we have from the elections as of the provisional results this morning:
The breakdown as follows:
- 34.33% voter turn out compared to 51% in 2010
- Len Brown won at 162,675 compared 107,672 for John Palino
- On a two person preferred basis it was a 60:40 split
- Difference of 55,000
- Six new councillors with the loss of three (not including the ones who retired)
- Council make up for the Governing Body is 11-9 on a rough support for Len basis. It swings to 13-9 on the Committees of the Whole as the two Independent Maori Statutory Board members also vote there
So I would say we are heading for a more centrist and fiscally conservative Council in this 2013-2016 term. This means there should be no re-call of the Unitary Plan from notification while we should see the City Rail Link in 2018 approximately. It is also a make up (of the Council) that is not particular going to bother me for the next term per-se. Unless something close to heart get bottled I won’t be particular minding Councillors doing their best in seeing debt does not shoot above 150% (rather than 275% as currently forecast).
In final remarks I am going to reflect on this bit from TV3. Take note on what not to do when you lose an election (although he changed tune rather quick for the Herald this morning)/
Len Brown elected for second term
By 3 News online staff
Auckland Mayor Len Brown has been re-elected for a second term.
The incumbent’s camp confirmed his victory this afternoon, from the Kingslander bar in Auckland where he is celebrating.
“You really put your life and your family’s life on the line for this sort of job, and it is so demanding,” Mr Brown said.
“I am very, very humbled to have come through that first term and to maintain the confidence of the community to carry on again.”
Mr Brown’s main conservative challenger, American-born millionaire businessman John Palino, came in second.
Mr Brown offered his congratulations to Mr Palino on a well-fought campaign – but Mr Palino wasn’t returning the compliment. He told 3 News he’s “very concerned” about the future of Auckland.
“If [Mr Brown] continues on the path he’s going, Auckland is going to be in trouble.
“It’s not the way you grow a population. It’s not the way you build.”Mr Palino blames the media for his loss, saying he struggled to get any coverage. But he plans to run for mayor at next election.
An Auckland Council spokesman said that with 95 percent of votes counted, Mr Brown had received 148,944 votes. Mr Palino was on 98,930 votes.
- READ MORE: How Auckland voted
The saying goes: Humble in Victory, Gracious in Defeat.
Heck sake you got 107,000 votes on the worst turnout ever, I’d say that is a great job all things considered. But no we have a sook – and if you do decide to run again sorry haven’t got my vote already!
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The 2013-2016 Term
All things considered I would say we are still heading down a progressive path in building a 21st Auckland is on track. For me personally it means:
Right then with Mayor confirmed and Council pretty much confirmed it is back to business. For me it is the following
1) Debt kept under 150%
2) City Rail Link
3) Manukau South Link
4) Pukekohe Electrification
5) Unitary Plan
6) Area Plans
7) Manukau Super Metropolitan Centre
8) Wesley College Special Housing Area
9) Glenora Road Station
Looking forward to working with the Mayor and Councillors again in the new term of Council
Time to start trawling those Committee Agenda’s again 😛
A lot of work still to do and I am picking up noises the East-West Link that got proposed is causing grief in Mangere and Otahuhu.
All in all – time to get back to work
Talking Southern Auckland 
You may want to look at how voters lost – again – in the 2013 Auckland Council elections. As in 2010, the majority of votes returned didn’t elect anyone at all….and we now have 3 Councillors no one voted for.
http://truthseekernz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/auckland-council-elections-2013-voters.html
Thanks for that Steve
Sorry I did this post on the fly this morning. But I will take a good hard look this week on the disaster of a turn out and what could be done to get it back over 50%.
Will take a look at that link you have provided 🙂