2016 Rangitikei mayoral election

The 2016 Rangitikei mayoral election were part of the Rangitikei and wider New Zealand local elections. On 8 October 2016, elections were held for the Mayor of Rangitikei and other local government roles. Incumbent mayor Andy Watson was first elected in 2013 with 41.5% of the vote.[1][2] Watson announced on 9 June he is running for a second term as mayor.[3][4] Running against Watson are community patrol chair George London and civil engineer Robert Snijders, all three from Marton.[5]

2016 Rangitikei mayoral election
8 October 2016
 
Candidate Andy Watson Robert Snijders George London
Party Independent Independent Independent
Popular vote 3,638 700 365
Percentage 77.35 14.88 7.76
Mayor before election

Andy Watson

 Elected Mayor

Andy Watson

Dates

Following are the key dates for the mayoral election:[6]

DateEvent
15 JulyNominations open for candidates.
12 AugustNominations close at noon.
17 AugustElection date and candidates’ names publicised by electoral officers.
16–21 SeptemberVoting documents delivered to households. Electors can post the documents back to electoral officers as soon as they have voted.
8 OctoberPolling day — all documents must be at the council before voting closes at noon. Preliminary results (i.e. once all ordinary votes are counted) will be available as soon as possible afterwards.
13–19 OctoberOfficial results (including all valid ordinary and special votes) declared.

Candidates

Incumbent mayor Andy Watson announced on 9 June his intention to run for a second term.[3]

On 9 August candidates George London and Robert Snijders came forward.[5] London is a Queen's Service Medal recipient, given to him for his services to the community; he is a volunteer health shuttle driver for St John Ambulance since 2009 and was elected chairman of the Marton Community Patrol in June 2015.[7]

Snijders is a civil engineer and the new owner of the Old Granary in Marton since July 2016; Snijders and his wife aim to restore the building—a Heritage New Zealand Category II building[8]—which had burnt down in March 2013.[9]

Campaign

On 28 July, as no other candidates had yet come forward, mayor Watson encouraged other candidates to stand for the mayoral election saying "It would be poor democracy if there were no more names put forward".[4] Watson voiced his drive as being the number of projects he had initiated that he wanted to see through, and the district being faced with fairly major challenges around earthquake infrastructure.[10]

Snijder's view on the council is that "it needed to be more engaged with the community".[5] Snijder has been a civil engineer working in Libya, Russia and England doing urban rejuvenation. "With my construction background I feel I'm more than qualified to step in and provide advice and expertise on costs and how to improve the proposed design [of new proposed centres in Bulls, Marton and Taihape]." In addition, Snijder aims to increase tourism in the area.[10]

London, a resident in Marton for 16 years and chair of the Marton Community Patrol, has said the council "needs a 'stronger' leader". Further adding: "I don't think there's a strong enough council there at the moment. They're a bit shy, a bit quiet and I want to be a bit louder and get out there more".[10]

Results

The results were released on 31 October 2016.[11]

Rangitikei mayoral election, 2016[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Andy Watson 3,638 77.35 +35.88
Independent Robert Snijders 700 14.88 —
Independent George London 365 7.76 —
Majority 2,938 62.47 +52.31
Total valid votes 4,703 99.87 +0.24
Informal votes 6 0.13 −0.24
Turnout 4,781 47.86 −1.36
Registered electors 9,989[13]
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See also

References
  1. Zaryd Wilson (12 October 2013). "Former Rangitikei mayor 'riding into sunset'". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  2. Wallis, Anna (14 October 2013). "Watson wins Rangitikei chain". Wanganui Chronicle – nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  3. Beaumont, Emily (9 June 2016). "Watson to seek re-election as mayor" (PDF). Fairfax Media. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  4. "Rangitikei mayor running again but no other chatter". Rangitikei District Monitor. Marton. 28 July 2016.
  5. Wilson, Zaryd (9 August 2016). "Three to contest Rangitikei mayoralty". Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  6. "About your 2016 local elections". Department of Internal Affairs. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  7. "Happy to help keep town safe". Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  8. "Granary (Former)". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  9. "New owners of old granary storing ideas". Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  10. Kilmister, Sam (18 August 2016). "Watson faces stiff competition". Feilding: Feilding-Rangitikei Herald.
  11. https://www.rangitikei.govt.nz/news/2016/final-election-results
  12. "Nominations". Electionz.com. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  13. "Election Statistics – Rangitikei". Local Government New Zealand. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
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