National candidate for Nelson announced

Press, 14 March 1987, Page 2

National candidate for Nelson announced

Nelson reporter Mr Robert Straight, a retired Army officer and the unsuccessful National candidate in 1984, will contest the Nelson seat for National at this year’s General Election. He was the only nominee for candidacy when nominations closed recently and it was confirmed on Thursday that his nomination had been accepted. In 1984, entering the political arena for the first time, Mr Straight secured 2550 votes on election night, behind the Independent candidate and former member of Parliament for Nelson, Mr Mel Courtney (6163 votes) and the sitting member for Nelson, Labour’s Mr Philip Woollaston (9753) but ahead of Mrs Inga Jiminez, New Zealand Party (1258). Mr Straight rates his chances of winning the Nelson seat vastly better than in 1984 when the Labour vote improved throughout New Zealand. “Today it is a totally different matter. At present I know of no Independent candidate standing and in the last two elections the voting for Mr Courtney certainly affected the National vote,” he said. Mr Courtney said yesterday it was “unlikely” that he would stand this year but he was keeping his options open. Mr Mike Ward, Values candidate in 1984 and the party’s deputy leader, is seeking nomination as its candidate for Nelson but will not know if he is successful until next week. The plans of the New Zealand Party are unknown. Mrs Jiminez was unavailable for comment yesterday. Mr Woollaston retained the seat in 1984 with an election-night majority of 3590 votes.