It’s that time of the political tri-cycle again; when Aucklanders are asked to fill out their postal votes for a myriad of people and positions they’ve never heard of. While the sensible will keep their heads down and block their ears until it’s over, I’ll be watching every platform and media source I can find, following every aspect of the race until voting closes at noon October 12.
So, why have I started ‘Stephen Berry’s Guide to Auckland Local Elections?’ Voter turnout is dismal and getting worse. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. In a democracy, not voting is just as important a right as the right to vote. If you don’t want to, that’s none of my business. However, local body elections are complicated! They contain multiple contests, with multiple electoral systems, different numbers of votes and an assortment of nobodies. I’m not surprised that the majority of people simply do not bother.
I first decided to do a voting guide in 2016 but it was late into the campaign and rushed. This time I’ve begun preparing from the time nominations closed, determined to analyse each contest in as much detail as I can manage and review as many candidates as possible.
There are 21 candidates for Mayor, 54 for Council, 348 for Local Boards, 83 for District Health Boards and 61 for Licensing Trusts. I’ll do my best.
I won’t try to pretend that this is an objective review. I have right-wing views, I want right-wing candidates to be elected. This guide is absolutely biased.
I’ll be rating candidates based on policy (rates, quality spending, affordable housing solutions, respect for property rights, sticking to core council functions), experience, understanding how the council works and general sanity. My ratings scale will be from:
$ (big government socialist) to $$$$$ (small government dynamo).
For some, only a ? rating will do (and some will get more than one). I’ll begin with each ward in alphabetical order, including local boards, DHBs and Licensing Trusts when geographically appropriate, then finish with the Mayoral race.
Some of you won’t like my recommendations. That’s cool! It’s not compulsory. Just a suggestion….jeez!