2013 Rangitikei mayoral election

The 2013 Rangitikei mayoral election was part of the Rangitikei and wider New Zealand local elections. On 12 October 2013, elections were held for the Mayor of Rangitikei and other local government roles. The incumbent, Robert "Chalky" Leary, ran against three other candidates and lost re-election to Andy Watson who was elected with 41.5% of the vote, a 486-vote majority over Leary whose vote share succumbed to 31.3%.[1][2][3]

2013 Rangitikei mayoral election
12 October 2013
 
Candidate Andy Watson Chalky Leary
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote 1,983 1,497
Percentage 41.47 31.30
Mayor before election

Chalky Leary

 Elected Mayor

Andy Watson

Candidates

Four candidates stood for election:[1][4]

  • Richard Aslett
  • Maree Brannigan (Fresh Future Focus)
  • Chalky Leary
  • Andy Watson

Campaign

For the first time since 2007 there was a contested election for the Rangitikei mayoralty, as in 2010 incumbent mayor Chalky Leary was elected unopposed.[5] On 26 June former deputy mayor Andy Watson announced his intention to run for mayor, campaigning on a more transparent council and an establishment of a finance committee. Incumbent Chalky Leary was standing for a third term in office and campaigned on a no excess and no frills council whose significant work included the Hunterville and Taihape sewerage schemes.[6]

Mangaweka-based councillor Richard Aslett and executive officer of Rural Education Activities Programme Maree Brannigan announced their candidacies in August. Aslett's campaign was based on improving population and visitor growth principally, as well as saving services, scrapping a possible amalgamation and lowering rates. Brannigan, running on a Fresh Future Focus platform, campaigned on achieving a stable rural economy to ensure the continued thriving of business, environment and families in the Rangitikei District.[4]

Results
Rangitikei mayoral election, 2013[1][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Andy Watson 1,983 41.47 —
Independent Chalky Leary 1,497 31.30 −68.70[lower-alpha 1]
Fresh Future Focus Maree Brannigan 687 14.37 —
Independent Richard Aslett 615 12.86 —
Majority 486 10.16
Total valid votes 4,782 99.63
Informal votes 18 0.38
Turnout 4,856 49.22
Registered electors 9,866

Note that blank votes are not included.

See also

Table footnotes
  1. Leary was elected unopposed in the 2010 election.[5]

References
  1. "Rangitikei District Council – 2013 Triennial Elections" (PDF). Electionz.com. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  2. Zaryd Wilson (12 October 2013). "Former Rangitikei mayor 'riding into sunset'". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  3. Wallis, Anna (14 October 2013). "Watson wins Rangitikei chain". Wanganui Chronicle – nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  4. "Four to contest race". Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  5. Rowatt, Colin (6 October 2010). "Mayor unchallenged, little impetus for change". Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  6. Ferguson, Lin (26 June 2013). "Deputy throws hat in the ring". Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  7. "Rangitikei District Council – Election Statistics". Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
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