Mayoral election

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 12

Mayoral election

Sir,—Barbara Stewart states (July 24) that “a group of Citizens had ambitions of their own ... and were/planning to dump Mrs Murray after the election by not voting for her as Deputy Mayor.” I challenge Mrs Stewart to substantiate her comments and name the persons to whom she refers, for, as chairman, I find her allegations totally unfounded. The only commitment given to Mrs Murray was an undertaking by Sir Hamish to nominate her as Deputy Mayor. Mrs Murray’s recent insistence that all candidates give her written assurance of support was as totally unacceptable then as it was when she first asked for it before the United Citizens Association was formed. Citizens members have always been a group of independent, free-think-ing respected citizens who exercise their vote carefully and individually. They will not be party to pressure politics, and the written assurance sought, while not unlawful, would have been completely contrary to the spirit of the legislation governing the appointment of the Deputy Mayor by the elected council. If this is typical of Waimairi’s “team” approach to local body affairs, then Christchurch will be the poorer for it.—Yours, etc., DENNIS RICH, Chairman, United Citizens. July 24,1989.