CITY ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 8

CITY ELECTIONS

Mayor And Council

CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE FOR BOTH POSITIONS

A candidate is entitled to stand for election for both the city mayoralty and the City Council, but although there is precedent for this in Dunedin local body elections, it does not appear likely to happen this year. In the elections of May 27, 1944, Dr D. G. McMillan opposed the sitting Mayor, Sir Donald Cameron, for the mayoralty, and at the same time he stood for the City Council. Dr McMillan was given * 15,267 votes for the mayoralty, but was not elected. He polled 15,575 votes for the City Council, and was elected as a councillor.

The Municipal Corporations Act would not preclude any person from standing for both offices at the elections to be held on November 18 this year. If this were the case, and the candidate was elected as mayor, he would automatically surrender his seat on the council, if he were also successful in this election. The unsuccessful candidate who polled highest on the list after those elected as city councillors would be elevated by the returning officer to the council. If, however, the number of candidates for the council filled the vacancies, and one of them was also elected mayor, a by-election would be necessary to fill the vacancy. It is possible, but not likely, that when the Labour "ticket” for the mayoralty and City Council is selected one man may be appointed to contest two offices, as was the case in-1944. Such a step, however, has been regarded to some extent as a weakness in candidature for the higher office, and would not ;be resorted to without careful consideration.