Auckland Mayoralty state of play: Why Phil Goff might run, how Leonie wins and what might stop Wayne Brown
The Auckland Mayoralty is looming and there are a couple of twists that could make the race interesting.
The first is Desley Simpson’s intentions. She is a capable, professional and driven individual who must roll her eyes at the Boomer Kings more toxic and counter productive grumpy hate rants.
She has a genuine ambition for the role and powerful supporters with deep pockets.
If she runs, it opens the opportunity for a 3rd candidate to go through the middle.
All the Boomer King Wayne Brown will do for a campaign is spend $300 000 on ZB advertising and say smoothing mean about Millennials.
If Desley runs, it opens up a legitimate opportunity for Phil Goff or Kerrin Leoni.
There are rumours that say Phil Goff will not be running and other rumours that say he’s already put together a team.
What Goff or Leoni needs is Desley to run AND some genuine big policy idea that is bold.
The reality is very few Aucklanders have any idea about what the road congestion charges are, they have no idea how it will penalise them, they have no idea the level of mass surveillance power they will be giving NZTA.
If Goff or Leoni made Congestion Charges an issue while pushing for a new lower monthly public transport capped cost (it’s currently $50 per week), they would have a chance of splitting the vote between Brown and Simpson using populist Auckland policy.
If Desley doesn’t stand against Wayne, he will be odds on favourite to take the Mayoralty again.
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What is “odds on favourite” is if the voting turnout is similar to last election it will favour Wayne Brown.
Leoni supports congestion charging in Auckland.
Whoever has the dubious pleasure of being Super Mayor will be elected on a minority split of a minority vote. So basically Jaffas will get what they deserve by not being arsed about voting–34.5% turnout of registered voters last time.
The boomer king will likely take it unless Desley and a few others stand. Brown operates on some sort of belligerent egotism, and is almost nihilistic in his disdain of most other people including ratepayers.
Is 34.5% turnout really a mandate to run the city?
It is something people really need to question
Figures are easily searchable online, from memory the peak turnout since the Supercity instigation was 38%.
Anyone recall Banksie and Kim dotcom…
I don’t want Goff to run. I’d like to see Leone win but fear the racism that emerged last time, will do so again.
Those few who bother voting would rather have a disinterested, bad-tempered, geriatric male than someone young and interested and hoping to do some good.
Sadly, I think people would hound her out of office like they did with Tory Whanau. I don’t know anything about Ms. Whanau but the way she was treated by Wellington is disgusting.
People might show more respect for Desley Simpson but maybe not.
A congestion charge may be needed but to hit workers going across town is not right. Public transport is not a viable proposition for someone living out west who needs to go the Penrose. Why should we have 2hour commutes 2x a day? Let’s not pretend those people can go and live closer to work, they can’t. That is the ideal, but in a sprawling place like Auckland with 2 harbours and a skinny isthmus, isn’t impossible.
Auckland is in the wrong place which is not the worker’s fault.
Congestion charges should be confined to areas with excellent regular bus services. Not with half hour waits in the outer suburbs, ‘worker’s buses’, or having to change buses.
Phil Goff who cancelled everyone’s Lifetime Driver Licenses and brought in Big Brother Photo ID. Would he keep a promise to not install mass surveillance congestion charges?
Good God ,,,not Goff…
I understand Stuart Nash needs a job. . . .
Stuart Nash is looking for a gig. . . that’d be funny. . . but sh*t, what if he won. . .