McKendry tops Marlborough poll

Press, 16 October 1989, Page 5

McKendry tops Marlborough poll

The present Mayor of Blenheim, Mr Leo McKendry, seems likely to be the first Mayor of the new Marlborough District Council after close polling with his nearest rival, Mr Malcolm Dick, the present chairman of the Marlborough County Council.

The third mayoral candidate, Mrs Lin Randle, trailed well behind. The election-night majority for Mr McKendry was only 14, with special votes from 53 electors still to be counted. The count was expected to be completed today, but as the majorityof these electors are from the Blenheim ward it seemed unlikely the relative position of the candidates would change. Mr McKendry also topped the poll for the Marlborough constituency of the Nelson-Marl-borough Regional Council.. Polling in Marlborough was extremely high, with 73.8 per cent of the possible 23,607 electors exercising their vote. Special votes from 56 electors have yet to be counted. They are for the mayoralty (53), Blenheim ward (34), Picton ward (7), Sounds ward (3), Wairau ward (9), Re-

gional Council (51) and Regional Health Board (54) — total 211. In the mayoralty contest Mr McKendry took 7322 votes, Mr Malcolm Dick 7308 and Mrs Lin Randle 2629. “I have no feeling of euphoria traditionally associated with victory,” Mr McKendry said. “With more than 50 special votes yet to be counted I really cannot assume I have the position until those votes are announced. It would be most unwise for anybody to assume that this is a conclusive result.”