Mount Maunganui and Papamoa ratepayers will elect the replacement councillor for Clayton Mitchell on February 17, following his resignation this week.
Clayton, who was one of two Mount/Papamoa ward councillors, resigned on October 20 - the day he was sworn in as a member of parliament.
Clayton Mitchell resigned after being sworn in as a member of parliament.
During his brief tenure as a city councillor Clayton was deputy chair of the City Delivery committee, who will elect his replacement at a meeting on November 18.
He was also deputy chair of the Nga Poutiri Ao o Mauao (Mauao Joint Administration Board) and the TCC trustee on Envirohub. New appointees will be elected at the Council meeting to be held on 15 December.
Until Clayton's replacement is elected, Tauranga City's elected council will consist of nine councillors and the mayor. During this period, if the council/a committee is unable to reach a majority vote on an issue (eg a vote of 5:5), the chairperson of the council/a committee may choose to cast the deciding vote.
Mayor Stuart Crosby thanked Clayton for his contribution to the city as an elected member.
'During his time on council, Clayton provided an invaluable perspective to council discussions and decision making,” says Stuart.
'He is absolutely committed to working for the residents and ratepayers of Tauranga and I know this will continue as he moves into his role in parliament. On behalf of the council I would like to wish him well for his future.”
Via the poll, the NZ First candidate for Tauranga asked residents to state whether they think he should keep his council role if he ends up in Parliament after Election Day, or resign.
Clayton Mitchell's resignation from council is because he is keeping his word on a SunLive poll that was against him sitting out his term on council. The then NZ First candidate was ‘mildly disappointed' that people didn't want him to see out the first six months – but he promised the results would be binding.
The poll attracted 525 replies, 401 of which wanted Clayton to give up his council seat and focus solely on government if he's elected.
Another 100 people wanted Clayton to remain in both offices and review the situation after six months. Twenty-four people voted for him to remain in both jobs until the next TCC election.
7 comments
Is Clayton going to pay the cost?
Posted on 23-10-2014 14:58 | By Phailed1
It should be easy for Clayton to pay the cost of the byelection from his large MPs salary and let's not forget those allowances. Better that than it comes from the pockets of struggling ratepayers.
Why bother?
Posted on 23-10-2014 15:27 | By george36
If the Council can manage without a Councillor for four months, why are they bothering to elect another one?
crosby support
Posted on 23-10-2014 15:48 | By hapukafin
Crosby is supporting a bye election and he is all over Clayton and us rate payers will have to pay. Why not just select the next highest poller or is that too easy.
agree with phailed1
Posted on 23-10-2014 16:13 | By whatsinaname
more money down the drain.agree with Phaied 1...................
No choice
Posted on 23-10-2014 17:07 | By Steve Morris
The Local Electoral Act 2001 requires us to have a by-election, we have no ability to do anything different in the matter.
Is there anything
Posted on 24-10-2014 08:21 | By nerak
also in The Local Electoral Act 2001 that prevents Clayton from paying for the by-election? Because if 'He is absolutely committed to working for the residents and ratepayers of Tauranga..." then a great step towards that would be to assist with the costs involved, if he cares about the ratepayers at all.
Come on George36...
Posted on 28-10-2014 14:29 | By Paul Melhuish
there's a pretty large difference between 4 months and the remaining 2 years of the current term if one councillor was to attempt to fulfill the role. The fact is that one councillor is doing the work of two and another will be elected so that people are better represented in Mt/Papamoa and wider afield.
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