Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck. Photo / File
Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck. Photo / File
Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck is the latest person to pop up on the radar for next year's Auckland mayoralty contest.
"I do get a lot of people asking me and that has continued. And yes, I am thinking about it, but it is early days," shetold the Weekend Herald.
"Given everything that is going on, I think leadership is going to be critical over the coming years to help the city recover and deal with all the issues we know we have got.
"That has partly prompted me and the fact people continue to raise it with me," she said.
The contest to lead the Super City of 1.7 million people after October next year is unclear with Mayor Phil Goff tipped as the next ambassador to Washington.
Mark Mitchell, the National MP for Whangaparaoa, toyed with the idea of standing but made a call early last month to stick with national politics.
"I was humbled by the amount of support I received. It's a serious job and I gave it serious consideration," he said.
Well-known restaurateur Leo Molloy has put his hat in the ring, as has Craig Lord who polled third at the 2019 elections behind Goff and John Tamihere.
Former National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett, has said: "I am not running for mayor. No ifs, no maybes. No." Even so, rumours continue to circulate about the popular Westie having a crack.
Beck would be a pro-business, centre-right candidate if she decides to stand at next October's local body election.
Restaurateur Leo Molloy has put his hat in the ring for the mayoralty. Photo / File
She has built a profile as a champion for the central city who is not afraid to challenge local and central government on issues like the upgrade of Queen St and disruption to businesses from the City Rail Link construction works.
One of her biggest challenges, if she stands for mayor, will be raising her profile and broadening her appeal outside the city centre.
If Goff, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, does go to Washington there is a possibility former Labour leader David Shearer could stand.
Shearer has confirmed it has been raised with him.
