An accountant had a business failure as a result of which he lost almost everything.
Many of his former clients wondered how they could trust him to do his best with their financial affairs when he’d failed so spectacularly with his own.
That’s not a bad question to ask of politicians too.
I’d have thought someone’s attitude to the public purse might also be an important consideration if they were seeking election as mayor.
If polls on mayoral elections in Auckland and Christchurch are to be believed, the majority of voters aren’t particularly worried about that.
If they were Jim Anderton’s big $100,000 trip to Europe and spa treatments charged to his ministerial credit card – against the rules, though later repaid – and Len Brown’s misuse of his mayoral credit card would put them well behind but recent polls put both are in front.
I know little about local body affairs in either city. But I am sorry that character – about which attitude to spending public money on private purcahses says much – doesn’t seem to count.
It’s a long way to October.
As a resident of greater CHCH I see an answer to your question may lie in the fact that there is a significant section of the population of the city who would vote for a “swede stuck on a manuka stick” (the vegetable not the scandy), if it had the official status as the Labour candidate. They have proved this time and time again by electing what seems an endless succession of rather doubtfully quallified candidates to office and ignoring real talent among their ranks.
Anderton, 72 years old, a proven track record as a destructive presence in any group he leads and whose greatest self promoted talent seems to be his some 50 years with his snout and front feet in the public trough. I see his candidature as a tremendous slap in the face to the significant pool of people who have committed to their party (James Anderton is no longer Labour, he is a deity, a god who has been the entire presence of the Anderton party and then the Progressive party), a considerable effort over recent years. I wonder just what he would have to do to lose the support of CHCH Labour and be challenged when he imposes himself on the electorate. Either the local Labour in their desperation to regain the mayoralty, think they need him to topple Bob ‘this is your life’ Parker or are just too inept to see the potential for the damage this one man wrecking ball can do to their long term future to represent the socialist sector of the city’s body politic.
When that basic socialist rump is added to the disgruntled anti Bob group it is no real surprise that “trougher extaordinaire” Jim Il Sunge leads in the polls.
I am a strong supporter of Mayor Bob Parker and although I do not support his every move(ie Henderson Properties), he is powerless without the support of a majority of his council. I see Bob as a wonderful front person for our City and his non partisan approach to the politics of city governance is refreshing. His socialist opponents call him a “Tory” but knowing the man as I do, that charge is without foundation but he does not wish to be the candidate of any political group as he really does consider himself the mayor of the whole city. Of course he enjoys it but as an independent he is vulnerable alas.
Anderton as mayor will end in tears for all of us.
A comprehension test to vote maybe ???
We are all entitled to drive a car.. If We Pass The TEST !!