By BERNARD ORSMAN
Auckland Mayor Christine Fletcher last night called on Alliance candidate Matt McCarten to pull out of the mayoral race to stop her nearest rival, John Banks, winning a three-way contest.
Mrs Fletcher said she had the backing of the Minister for Auckland Issues, Judith Tizard, who "knows that a
vote for Matt McCarten is a vote for Banks".
She accused Mr Banks of talking up his campaign with a "supposed" Alliance poll putting her support at 22 per cent, 18 points behind Mr Banks.
The poll placed Mr McCarten third on 19.6 per cent.
"Matt - pulling rabbits out of the air - take Judith's advice and pull out now," Mrs Fletcher said at a candidates meeting organised by the Tamaki Drive Protection Society.
About 150 people attended the meeting last night at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club on Tamaki Drive.
Mr McCarten scoffed at the call, saying Judith Tizard had her own credibility problems and it was a bit like a rat swimming towards a sinking ship.
Going into the third and final week of postal voting, Mr McCarten said that only he or Mr Banks could win the top council job in New Zealand.
"Mrs Fletcher is not going to be here," he said.
Mr Banks drew the biggest applause of the evening with his support for completion of the Auckland motorway network, including the eastern motorway, and a promise to make the streets of Auckland safe.
Mrs Fletcher, in an unusually passionate speech, accused Mr McCarten and Mr Banks of being driven by their egos.
"I haven't heard policy being debated by either of them. Both are extreme in their views and Auckland does not need extremists."
Feature: Local body elections 2001
www.localgovt.co.nz
