'Everyday Kiwi' Granville tops poll in byelection

SUPPORTED: Jason Granville (standing, right), at home with his family and friends; Parents Geoff and Linda Granville (left), niece Sophie Loveridge, 5, brother-in-law and sister Grant and Aimee Loveridge, nephew Ollie Loveridge, 3, and friends Maggie Jiang and Rob Moore. Photo/Lewis Gardner

He describes himself as "an everyday Kiwi" and he is Wanganui's newest councillor.

Jason Granville, 31, won the Wanganui District Council by-election convincingly over the weekend to take the seat vacated by Michael Laws in April.

With 5630 votes, Mr Granville was more than 3000 votes ahead of Graham Adams in second place, with Sharon Duff a distant third. The lower ranked candidates were, in order, Ross Mitchell-Anyon, Rana Waitai, Adrian Tepatu, Bruce Parr and Bill Milbank.

The voter turnout for the by-election was 13,309, or 42.8 per cent of eligible voters.

Mr Granville was celebrating his win at his family home yesterday, with his parents, siblings, niece and nephew and friends.

He was pleased with the win, particularly after missing out on a council seat by just 77 votes at the local government elections in October 2013.

"I was absolutely gutted when that happened, so I told myself it was no big deal if I didn't win this time.

"I was surprised that I won by so much. I thought it would be a close race," Mr Granville said.

Winning the council seat is not the only change in Mr Granville's life.

After being the breakfast host at MoreFM for the past five years, he will finish at the end of the month.

"I've bought Take It Easy Tours, and me and my mate Jimmy Elliott are going to run it together." Born and raised in Wanganui, Mr Granville said he wanted to gain a seat on the council to represent Wanganui's everyday Kiwis.

"That's who I am. I see myself as the servant of the ordinary people in Wanganui, and I want to try and help them as much as I can. "I have a lot to learn but I'm not afraid to ask questions."

Since his election, Mr Granville had spoken with Mayor Annette Main, and some of his fellow councillors.

"Annette and I get on well. We're going to have a proper catch-up during the week."

Mr Granville paid tribute to his fellow candidates and thanked them for putting their names forward for the by-election. He also thanked his family and friends for their "wonderful support".

"To everyone that supported me, I really appreciate it."