The Capital Times, bless them, have sent reporters to the meet the candidates forums. So far they’ve done reports on the Southern and Eastern wards. They also have a readers poll you can see on any of their pages on local body campaigning methods. Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be anything ground breaking news to report. It seems that right across the city candidates are fawning over how much they agree with each other and how much they hate water privitisation. Yawn.
WCC Watch
KEEPING AN EYE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN WELLINGTON
WCC Watch 
Not all the candidates have been fawning over each other. Sir Michael Fowler has been quite rude to a number of them at candidate meetings. He especially likes attacking Stephanie Cook, right in front of her, saying he has no idea who she is, what’s she been doing for 15 years, and she’s lazy and idle. He’s right of course. At the Mt Vic meeting which Kent has videoed and put on their site, he look particular offence at John Bishop’s ramblings and told him to basically sit down and shut up twice, and said who is this man.
Surprisingly after that personal attack from the former Mayor, Bishop has written on his latest blog on light rail (23/09); “This election was far more sedate than I had expected. Candidates stood up and said their pieces and there were some questions asked. There was no robust debate – not in my ward anyway. There may have been stronger clashes elsewhere that I have not seen.” He must have a thick skin or short memory. The article is worth a read. http://wotzon.com/diary/JBishop/?p=692
You will note that Celia Wade-brown has responded as the first comment. I like this line: “You are setting up a straw man (a common tactic of ACT, I believe) by saying I am against cars. No – they are appropriate for many journeys but the city would be more pleasant and efficient with at least a 10% (NOT 100%!!) shift to public transport. Buses won’t have the downtown capacity to take the growth.”
Bishop says he’s “keen on green”. I think like a lot of us, he just fancies Iona.
If it weren’t for the Capital Times the newspaper coverage of the elections would be virtually non-existent. I was particularly annoyed by the Dom when it covered the Mayoral part of the Aro Valley meet the candidates meeting but didn’t even mention the councillors meeting that was immediately afterwards.
The Australian candidate for Lambton Adam Cunningham who lives in Miramar (& would have stood a better chance winning in Eastern Ward) thinks traditional campaigning such as waving signs is too much like the Wiggles for him. I suppose many already think of the council as the Muppet Show. Facebook comment – “Adam Cunningham helping out with Dani’s MOCKTAIL 13th Party tonight, now that is truly a refreshing change from campaigning. Back on the leaflet drop run again
tomorrow, although I cannot bring myself to stand by the side of the road and wave at drivers, something slightly “wigglish” about that!”
Just had a look at Cunnignham’s FB page and saw this – Adam Cunningham Great to be at first meeting of the retail and hospitality team with Chamber of Commerce. Be good to see a united front on planning for Wellington’s future by the biggest employer group in the region!
I didn’t realise planning for Wellington’s was the role of the CoC. A cynic might conclude that the reason Cunningham stands in Lambton but lives in Miramar is because it’s really the bars and restaurants of Lambton ward that he intends to represent rather than the actual people. I can’t think of another reason why he’d stand in Lambton rather than Eastern.
Helene Ritchie has lived opposite the Council Chambers in the CBD for years and years and continued to represent Northern Ward. Nothing unusual about that.
It’s time for Helene Ritchie to sling her hook and let a new generation have a go. She was first elected in 1977 (when the Sex Pistols released God Save the Queen). Her current responsibilities are: none.
The Wellingtonian panel this year rated her as a “poor performer” overall. Her effectiveness was “very poor”, and she was “very reactive”. She is also a double dipper, serving on the Capital and Coast District Health Board. It’s time for this local government career politician to find another career.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/the-wellingtonian/3870457/Black-mark-for-Hayley-Wain