McCarten has a bob each way in his choice of candidates

Matt McCarten. Photo / Listener

Union leader and political commentator Matt McCarten has endorsed Super City candidates to help left-leaning voters elect a progressive mayor and Auckland Council.

Mr McCarten has based his picks on candidates who are pro-community, have a reliable track record and a good chance of winning and are not in the pockets of business interests.

Not surprisingly, he has picked Manukau Mayor Len Brown for the mayoralty, saying his battle with Auckland City Mayor John Banks will depend on two things - voter turnout and the minor players. Turnout close to 50 per cent would see Mr Brown romp home, but 40 per cent would favour Mr Banks. In 2007, turnout across Auckland was 37.3 per cent.

Mr McCarten said a high vote for conservative Colin Craig would hurt Mr Banks. A high vote for North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams or actor Simon Prast would hurt Mr Brown.

Mr Williams is a surprise pick in the Albany ward, where he is standing for a council seat as well.

Mr McCarten said Mr Williams, whose drinking and texting behaviour have hit the headlines, had not helped himself. But he was the most experienced player, and dependable and reliable on the important issues.

He has made a "personal" choice of National Party member Cameron Brewer in Orakei, saying there was not a progressive candidate who could beat the former Newmarket Business Association leader or "Citizens & Ratepayers hack" Doug Armstrong.

"If you're going to have to cop a right-winger, you might as well go for the intelligent one, open to a good argument and prepared to be persuaded on facts," he said.

Mr McCarten is emailing 50,000 Aucklanders in the hope people will vote for a community-based council.

"This election is basically about whether we follow a corporate governance model of a new Auckland or a community governance model, where it's about the sort of place we call home and people also make a living," he said.

Mr McCarten, who recently disclosed he is battling cancer, is not the first to openly support candidates. ProCare primary health group has backed 21 health board hopefuls. Chief executive Ron Hooton said it favoured those considered to have a "beneficial approach" to health changes and a primary care-led system.

Lefty's picks for a progressive city

Mayor: Len Brown.

Auckland Council - by ward:

Rodney: Christine Rose.

Albany: Julia Parfitt, Andrew Williams.

North Shore: Joel Cayford, Grant Gillon.

Waitakere: Sandra Coney, Paul Walbran.

Whau: Ross Clow.

Eden-Albert-Roskill: Cathy Casey, Glenda Fryer.

Waitemata & Gulf: Mike Lee.

Orakei: Cameron Brewer.

Maungakiekie-Tamaki: Richard Northey.

Manukau: Efu Koka, Brent Morrissey.

Howick: Maggie Burrill, Sharon Stewart.

Manurewa-Papakura: Sir John Walker, Sir Barry Curtis.

Franklin: Dianne Glenn.

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