Despite being assured by Lawrence Yule when he was re-elected mayor of Hastings last year that he would see out his term, we are now faced with a byelection for the position he vacated to become the MP for Tukituki.
The residents of Hastings District will go back to thepolls next month to elect a new mayor and a new councillor too, as a result of Adrienne Pierce resigning her council seat to launch an unsuccessful parliamentary bid in Palmerston North.
It is not an ideal situation but after many years with Mr Yule as mayor, the city has a chance to elect a new mayor.
The favourite must surely be deputy mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, who has an advantage over her opponents simply for the fact that she is acting mayor at present.
Her main competition is likely to be first term councillor and Health Hawke's Bay chairman Bayden Barber, who has a very organised campaign. Crownthorpe lemon grower Stuart Perry is making a serious push for the role, while others who have thrown their hat into the ring are councillor Simon Nixon, Allister Tosh, who received 76 votes when he stood for the Tukituki seat and 19-year-old Waitawhara Tupaea, who is also standing for the council position.
It is a very interesting line-up and voters will get a chance to hear what the candidates stand for at a Hawke's Bay Today debate at Karamu High in Hastings at 6pm on Thursday, November 2. I will moderate the debate and I am hoping we will get a clear idea of the candidates' vision. I am expecting a big turnout as I believe people want to ensure that the best candidate gets the job.
If you have a question you want me to ask the candidates, please send it to editor@hbtoday.co.nz.
