1977 Wellington City mayoral election

The 1977 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1977, election were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including eighteen city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

1977 Wellington City mayoral election
8 October 1977
Turnout41,641 (46.88%)
 
Candidate Michael Fowler Sir Frank Kitts
Party Citizens' Labour
Popular vote 17,041 14,022
Percentage 40.92 33.67
 
Candidate Tony Brunt Carmen
Party Values Independent
Popular vote 7,996 1,686
Percentage 19.20 4.04
Mayor before election

Michael Fowler

 Elected Mayor

Michael Fowler

Background

The 1977 mayoralty was notable for the highly publicized candidacy of Carmen Rupe, a transgender drag performer and brothel keeper. With the support of local businessman Bob Jones, who organised her campaign and wrote her speeches, Carmen's campaign utilised the slogans Get in Behind and Carmen for Mayor[1] and campaigned on a platform to legalise gay marriage and brothels, despite neither being local-government matters in New Zealand.[2]

Former mayor Sir Frank Kitts attempted a comeback after losing narrowly three years earlier. His candidature took many by surprise with the press expecting Labour to try and rejuvenate. Local businessman Jim Belich was approached, but he declined for personal reasons.[3] Frank O'Flynn also considered standing, but withdrew in favour of Kitts, though O'Flynn stood on the council ticket and was elected. A Dominion editorial said of Kitts' candidature "No one knew what Frank Kitts did during his three years in the political wilderness and no one knew why he wanted to come back".[4] His support in the mayoral race fell further, though he was again elected to the Wellington Harbour Board where his vote increased.

Mayoralty results
1977 Wellington mayoral election[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Citizens' Michael Fowler 17,041 40.92 -0.44
Labour Sir Frank Kitts 14,022 33.67 -6.68
Values Tony Brunt 7,996 19.20 +3.85
Independent Carmen 1,686 4.04
Independent Citizens' Saul Goldsmith 568 1.36 -0.76
Independent Ivan Solt 167 0.40
Civic Reform Donald McMillan 161 0.38
Informal votes 280 0.67
Majority 3,019 7.25 +6.24
Turnout 41,641 46.88 +3.76

Councillor results
1977 Wellington local election[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Values Tony Brunt 20,664 49.62 +9.17
Citizens' Ian Lawrence 20,617 49.51 +6.26
Labour Bill Jeffries 20,415 49.02 +6.76
Citizens' Stewart Duff 20,141 48.36 +1.36
Labour Keith Spry 20,133 48.34 +9.65
Citizens' Betty Campbell 20,122 48.32 +3.89
Citizens' Rosemary Young 20,069 48.19 +10.35
Citizens' Audrey Fitzgerald 19,609 47.09 +6.93
Labour Brian O'Brien 18,829 45.21 -9.06
Labour Frank O'Flynn 18,510 44.45
Citizens' Irvine Yardley 18,035 43.31 +6.97
Citizens' John Wootton 17,709 42.52 +9.58
Citizens' Jim McMillan 17,600 42.26 +7.89
Labour Joe Aspell 17,475 41.96 +4.69
Labour Jenny Brough 16,019 38.46
Labour Helene Ritchie 15,871 38.11
Citizens' Bruce Harris 15,529 37.29 +2.52
Citizens' Gavin Wilson 15,353 36.86
Labour Marijke Robinson 15,291 36.72
Citizens' David Bull 14,917 35.82
Labour Tala Cleverly[nb 1] 15,056 36.15
Citizens' Alan Revell 14,860 35.68
Labour Jim Edwards 14,716 35.34
Citizens' Les Chapman 14,667 35.22 -3.98
Labour Fanaura Kingstone 14,377 34.53
Citizens' Des Hoskins 14,376 34.52 -1.56
Labour Jim Kebbell 14,270 34.26
Labour Tilly Hunter 14,235 34.18
Citizens' Les Paske 14,166 34.01
Labour John Ulrich 13,972 33.55 +5.34
Citizens' Ernie Cartrell 13,709 32.92
Citizens' Seton Nossiter 13,703 32.90
Citizens' George Nicholls 13,423 32.23 -0.72
Labour Joe McTaggart 13,022 31.27
Labour Ross Simpson 12,561 30.16
Labour Mark Peck 11,881 28.53
Values Judith Reinken 8,745 21.00
Independent Citizens' Saul Goldsmith 7,636 18.33 -6.49
Values Chris Wheeler 7,269 17.45
Independent Carmen 6,817 16.37
Values Brian Dreadon 6,766 16.24
Civic Reform Donald McMillan 4,761 11.43
Independent David Mitchell 2,963 7.11
Independent Ron England 2,860 6.86 -12.00
Independent Ivan Solt 2,731 6.55
Civic Reform Amatanga Sooialo 2,547 6.11
Independent Frank Moncur 2,218 5.32 -10.13
Civic Reform James Quinn 2,100 5.04
Civic Reform James Billings 1,852 4.44

Table footnotes:

  1. Cleverly was appointed to fill the vacancy on the council in 1979 caused by Irvine Yardley's resignation
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gollark: I'm sure there are *some*.
gollark: Unrelated: slowly, my reactor efficiency goes up... soon, it shall reach a slightly higher percentage.
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gollark: Dwarf Fortress!

References
  1. Trust: A true story of Women and Gangs. Pip Desmond. 2009. Page 158
  2. "Carmen Rupe, legend, dies in Sydney". gaynz.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2011. Transgender goddess and glbt community icon Carmen Rupe has died in Sydney, aged 75, from kidney failure following months of poor health.
  3. Hogan, Anne (11 February 1986). "Jim Belich tipped for Labour's mayoral bid". The Evening Post.
  4. "The Last Hurrah". The Dominion. 28 December 1977.
  5. Smyth, Alan J. (25 October 1977). Declaration of Election Results (Report). Wellington City Council.
  6. "Wellington". The Evening Post. 10 October 1977.
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