Bruce Hucker has resigned as a City Vision candidate but it is unclear whether he will stand as an independent candidate at the forthcoming local body elections in October.
In a brief statement issued this morning, Dr Hucker said he would not be seeking re-election as a City
Vision candidate in the Western Bays ward.
"I have made this decision after careful consideration," he said.
Dr Hucker, who has been a city councillor for 18 years, led City Vision for nearly nine years and is deputy mayor, could not be reached for comment about whether he would seek re-election as an independent.
His decision to sever ties with the centre-left City Vision ticket follows a long internal spat within City Vision over Dr Hucker's hard line on water charges.
City Vision chairman Robert Gallagher said Dr Hucker had not been definite about his future but made it clear he had a number of options other than being a councillor and would not do anything to damage City Vision.
"To stand against City Vision would clearly be a breach of that," Mr Gallagher said.
Mr Gallagher said he was pleased the issue had been resolved.
"It's a good conclusion for City Vision and Bruce," Mr Gallagher said.
Frustrated colleagues dumped Dr Hucker as City Vision leader on June 13 but agreed he could stay on as deputy mayor until October.
When City Vision released a new water policy and Dr Hucker reiterated his support for higher water bills, forecast to jump 124 per cent over 10 years, most of his colleagues asked him to step down as deputy mayor.
However, City Vision - with backing from Mayor Dick Hubbard - was unable to get 11 of the 20 votes required to dump Dr Hucker as deputy mayor.
City Vision leaders then asked Dr Hucker to step down as a City Vision candidate or be dumped. He chose the former option.
City Vision councillor Neil Abel said the refusal by Dr Hucker not to stick with the new water policy was the key factor behind him going.
"It will restore some credibility to the City Vision ticket again," Mr Abel said.
City Vision will re-open nominations in Western Bays to find a replacement for Dr Hucker.
