Sympathy vote a factor for council candidate

Independent candidate Ravi Musuku, a Baptist Church pastor, is out and about on the campaign trail each day in the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Cafe owner Richard Cudmore walked up, unsolicited, to shake the hand of Super City council hopeful Ravi Musuku, promising to vote for him because of how the National Party treated him in the Mt Albert byelection.

"I am totally disgusted at how National dropped you for Melissa Lee, who is like a fish who has just fallen out of a goldfish bowl in the area," said Mr Cudmore, who runs the Grace May Cafe in Sandringham.

Indian-born Mr Musuku, who stood in 2005 and 2008 against the then Prime Minister, Helen Clark, was dumped for Korean-born Ms Lee in last year's byelection, and many voters are still sore about what happened.

Mr Musuku, 53, says he is standing as an independent candidate for the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward after "difficulties" in getting selected on the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket.

C&R is fielding former Auckland City Mayor Christine Fletcher and sitting councillor Paul Goldsmith. Sitting councillors Cathy Casey and Glenda Fryer from City Vision and former C&R man Mark Donnelly, who is running as an independent under Focus Local, are also in the race for the two seats.

In a stroll past the Sandringham shops, Mr Musuku found some encouraging support.

Sai, owner of Indian Movie World, wrapped his arm over Mr Musuku's shoulder like an old friend when he walked into the movie rental shop with campaign flyers.

"It's disgusting how National treated you," Sai told him.

"You are one of us. You have my vote."

Despite his claim to be the best man for the job, Mr Musuku's chances of making the new council could depend on sympathy votes, and even they may not be enough.

Some voters who have turned against National since the general election still consider Mr Musuku a National man.

Davindar Singh, a taxi driver from Mt Albert who voted National in 2008, says he is disillusioned with the National Government and does not want more of the same in local representation.

"Independent or not, we still feel Musuku is still a National man," Mr Singh said.

Mr Musuku was easily recognised in Sandringham, which has a strong Indian community and is part of the Mt Albert electorate, but it was a different story in Mt Eden, where few knew him and many were reluctant to accept the flyers he was handing out.

Olive Stoddard, 92, said she did not have a clue who he was. She hadn't decided who she would be voting for.

In a ward that stretches from the wealthy suburb of Epsom to the poor end in Owairaka, candidates campaigning for the two councillor spots will have to solicit votes from communities that differ widely.

Albert-Eden is still largely a stronghold of left-leaning City Vision and Mt Roskill has traditionally voted right-leaning C&R.

Two issues - the proposed Dominion Rd upgrade and the moving of Monte Cecilia School in Hillsborough - have emerged as issues that could influence how people vote.

Mr Musuku, a pastor at the Hillsborough Baptist Church, believes standing as an independent gives him an edge.

"This means I can be the voice of the people I represent and not the voice of any political party or group."