Mark Bell-Booth

Mark Rex Bell-Booth was Mayor of Palmerston North for one term, from 2001 to 2004.[1]

Mark Bell-Booth
26th Mayor of Palmerston North
In office 2001–2004
Preceded by	Jill White
Succeeded by	Heather Tanguay

Bell-Booth was a Palmerston North City Councillor from 1991 to 2001. He became known through his "Save the Avenue" campaign.[2] He is best known for the redevelopment of The Square, which happened during his mayoralty.[3] In the 2004 local elections he lost the mayoralty to Heather Tanguay.[4] He made headlines when it became known that he lent his wife's car to a known gang member. His time at the council was described by a political commentator as being more akin to that of a chief executive than a mayor.[5] He contested the mayoralty again in the 2010 local elections and came a distant second against incumbent Jono Naylor, with 2,229 votes against 16,717.[6][7]

From 2004 to 2008 Bell-Booth was chief executive of Assetta, a software development company. Since then he has been a director of Unlimited Realities, a designer of touchscreen software applications.[4]

References

1. "2000s". Palmerston North City Council. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
2. "Mark Bell-Booth". Palmerston North City Library. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
3. Miller, Grant (11 September 2010). "Bell-Booth intent on leaving his mark". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
4. "Bell-Booth throws his hat in for mayor". Manawatu Standard. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
5. Matthews, Lee (15 May 2010). "Editorial: Old mayors have eyes on the prize". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
6. "Mark Bell-Booth". Elections 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
7. Nichols, Lane (21 August 2011). "High-profile clashes in battle for mayoralties". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 13 October 2011.

Political offices
Preceded by Jill White	Mayor of Palmerston North 2001–2004	Succeeded by Heather Tanguay