Crs support Murray bid for mayoralty

Press, 1 August 1989, Page 3

Crs support Murray bid for mayoralty

A majority of Waimairi District councillors are backing Mrs Margaret Murray in her bid for the Christchurch Mayoralty. A survey by “The Press” shows that, of her 12 Waimairi colleagues, eight are definite or likely supporters. Crs John Hanafin, David Buist, Barbara Stewart, Pat Harrow, Fred Blogg, John’Milligan and Ted Arundel offer definite support. All seven were members, with Mrs Murray, of the Waimairi Independence Team which contested the 1986 elections on a non-amal-gation platform.

Several of them have indicated a willingness to join Mrs Murray’s ticket to contest the October elections for the new City Council.

Cr Brian Shackel is opposed to Mrs Murray’s Mayoral aspirations. He attacked her stand at the Waimairi Council meeting on July 19, and later pledged support for Sir Hamish Hay as Mayor. The two Papanui riding members, Cr Des King and Cr Gordon Freeman, were reported then as having offered Mrs Murray support at that meeting.

They have since made clear, however, that their comments at the meeting were to congratulate her on her decision to stand, not necessarily to pledge support.

Cr Freeman said Mrs Murray’s decision to stand was good for Christchurch, making it a “good and democratic fight.” But he and Cr King were strictly independent, and offering support or otherwise to Mrs Murray’s candidacy was “a bit premature,” he said. Of the councillors who could not be contacted, Cr Bruce McFadden was said by Murray supporters also

to be part of the team. His support would bring the tally for Mrs Murray to eight.

Cr Arthur Adcock, at present in Australia, will contest the elections as a Labour Party candidate in the Burwood Ward. Labour candidates are not tied to any Mayoral candidate, because the party has no formal candidate of its own. He could not be reached for comment on how he would treat Mrs Murray’s campaign, and he was not at last week’s council meeting. Cr King recalled that he forecast at the council meeting that Mrs Murray would bring “lively and vigorous debate to the city” and this would be based on issues, not personalities. He had shared in the congratulations of Mrs Murray for asserting her candidacy and therefore ensuring that the Waimairi District would have a voice in the campaign, said Cr King.

This did not mean he was campaigning for her as a possible Mayor. “As an independent, I maintain the independence of electors to make their own choice,” said Cr King. Cr King also disputed the description in "The Press” of his being “tearful” in his reaction to a statement issued by Cr Shackel attacking Mrs Murray’s candidacy. “Nothing could be further from the truth. I do not cry over political matters,” he said. “I gave a concerned and considered response to questions put to me about the Shackel statement. Mrs Murray was with me at the time and could confirm that,” said Cr King, “I’m too much of a fighter in the community to be shedding tears.”