15 candidates for Mt Albert
May 19th, 2009 at 2:27 pm by David FarrarThe Chief Electoral Office has announced 15 candidates are standing in the by-election. They are:
- Jim Bagnall, Independent
- Ari Baker, Independent
- John Boscawen, ACT New Zealand
- Ben Boyce, The Bill and Ben Party
- Simonne Dyer, Kiwi Party
- Malcolm France, People Before Profit
- Dakta Green, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
- Rusty Kane, The Peoples Choice Party
- Melissa Lee, National Party
- Russel Norman, Green Party
- Julian Pistorius, Libertarianz
- David Shearer, Labour Party
- Judy Turner, United Future
- Anthony Joseph James Van Den Heuvel, Human Rights Party
- Jackson James Wood, Independent
I have highlighted the candidates standing for parliamentary parties.
Related posts:
- Final Mt Albert Result
- McCarten on Mt Albert
- Y chromosome co-leader candidates
- Massacre in Mt Albert
May 19th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
You’ve omitted –
Cam Calder, Dentist of Auckland who gets in if National wins
Hilary Calvert, lawyer of Dunedin who gets in if ACT wins
and
David Clendon, a resource management lecturer who gets in if the Greens win
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Ben is standing? Right, time to switch allegiances. Go the Bill and Ben party.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Melissa Lee is still standing? I thought she’d been brought to her knees.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Ben will poll a lot higher than…
Jim Bagnall, Independent
Ari Baker, Independent
Simonne Dyer, Kiwi Party
Malcolm France, People Before Profit
Dakta Green, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
Rusty Kane, The Peoples Choice Party
Julian Pistorius, Libertarianz
Anthony Joseph James Van Den Heuvel, Human Rights Party
Jackson James Wood, Independent
Good to see the Libs stand their own candidate, perhaps they will stop infesting the bloody ACT party now.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Bruv – Ben will poll a lot higher than… Boscawen!
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Sounds like Mt Albert first XV. They could tour Fiji and spread the love of democracy and give the Fiji Army XV a damn good thrashing!!!
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Simon, not sure about Melissa Lee at halfback. She doesn’t have a great pass.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
DPF
I think you should give up your National party affiliations for this by-election and support Dakta Green.
The man is a ledgend – always willing to sit and have a chat if you find him out and about in his bus.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
And the only candidate on everyones lips is Melissa. No one else is being talked about. I know the smart money is on Labour winning probably because of the motorway and the Budget.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Actually Ben should campaign on how it’s a two-horse race between him and Melissa. The media would lap that up.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I’m still coming to terms with the image of Melissa Lee on her knees . . . . . . .
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
There are some superb monikers there … Dakta Green, Rusty Kane …suberb.
I agree that you might not want Lee in your 1st XV backline as she will be dropping the ball with regularity. Perhaps shearer for prop due to his knowledge of war zones, Dakta to provide munchies for half-time.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
BUT PHILL ……..We know that Melissa will call it as she sees it and tells the truth.. The rest are in denial.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Rusty Kane and the People’s Choice are a ginger group on the account they all have red hair… they already have hug a ginger day in their pocket. I bet he will be campaigning on that the by-election is a waste of public money. He’s got my vote.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
watch Norman Russell quietly consolidate his position
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
go to my site dudes my films are good
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Melissa Lee is ‘too busy’ to turn up to tonight’s debate on the supercity. Does this mean she’s effectively conceding?
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Is “David Clendon, a resource management lecturer who gets in if the Greens win” is the only person who could end up being an MP after this by-election, who is resident in the seat?
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Where is the resurgence of the beloved Alliance Party? Not even a representation from the Workers Party either, is that because they don’t exist outside VUWSA
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Um, this candidate didn’t do very well today.
Watch the video, especially the second half. The most significant thing she said was
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
I think National’s strategy now is to treat the Greens as the opposition in this election, thereby side-lining Shearer.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
ephemera, I’m not sure what National’s strategy is, because, in the words of their candidate, she’s “all over the place”!
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
@Toad,
The latest press release from the Lee campaign accuses Russel Norman of a “Jack Up”.
It would appear that Shearer has morphed into the wallpaper, while Lee and Norman are the ones making the impact.
National appear to have recognised this – and are attempting to split the left’s vote to counter Lee’s under-performance. The most effective way of doing this is with the promotion of the Greens as the true opposition.
The view from within Mount Albert might be different. This does appear to the current media narrative, though.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
So will centre-right voters go tactical and vote Greens to annoy Labour now they realise the National candidate is a joke?
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
@Jarbury
This is a low risk strategy for National. If the Lee campaign continues using the Greens in their discourse, then there are one of three possibilities:
1. Shearer sneaks in with a slim majority
Vote:2. Norman obtains enough recognition amongst voters to win, and thus serve humiliation to Labour, in a ‘safe’ seat.
3. There is a three-way photofinish, with Lee sneaking in with her own slim majority.
May 19th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
No Jarbury, centre-right voters will go tactical and vote for me.
I am the only credible centre-right candidate.
Every jounalist who has written on the campaign since last Thursday has said Melissa Lee has no hope of winning.
I am surprised that David has given so little coverage to the campaign, but it so embarassing to National.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
@ John Boscawen
Option 4: National supporters vote for you and allow a Labour or a Green candidate to enter the house.
This is a FPP election campaign, with far less choice when it comes to tactical voting.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I think you highlight it perfectly ephemera…..there is little chance a centre right voter will vote for Norman to be their MP, and so those who try to talk up a contest between Norman and Shearer are clearly mistaken.
We are about to launch a massive effort in Mt. Albert and I am the only credible centre- right candidate.
It is two horse race….Shearer and myself.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
John Boscawen said: It is two horse race….Shearer and myself.
Dreamer!
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
@John Boscawen
“It is two horse race….Shearer and myself”
How do you solve the Norman conundrum? I’m certain he is outperforming you in polls.
Surely your argument would only ring true if Mount Albert were a safe National seat?
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
I dunno ephemera…
John has been pushing his way onto buses (without paying) so he can hand out leaflets to captive bus passengers as part of his campaigning. Sounds like he’s pretty serious.
What is Act’s opinion on the Waterview Conection anyway? Surely they’re with the Greens thinking that both Labour’s $2.5 billion and National’s $1.4 billion options are a waste of money.
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
@jarbury
“John has been pushing his way onto buses (without paying)”
I was on a bus once in Epsom when Rodney Hide did this. Must be in the Act handbook
Vote:May 19th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
I don’t know why Act is going for the “bus riding” demographic anyway. Surely they should be jumping into Mercedes’ at traffic lights or something?
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 12:49 am
Good news for National, with the entry of ACT and the LIBZ there are now right-wing candidates more clueless than Mellissa.
It has not been a good couple of weeks for our Tory chums, who could begrudge them a bit of comic relief,
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 2:03 am
The left are swarming like flies on free range pig shit on this thread. Can you hose it down Farrar?
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 5:25 am
I ride on the buses because I get to talk to a lot of people. I find it very successful.
I repeat what I said earlier. If the people of Mt. Albert want an MP to truly represent them, I believe they can not do better than myself. Even more so for those wanting a centre right MP.
And if you recall Rodney won in 2005…..
And I talk to people on train stations too….and I am off the Mt. Albert train station again shortly.
….and finally why would you think I wouldn’t pay.
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Jarbury,
I used to live in Mt Albert and catch the bus into the City. I remember during election before last (you know the one, when Labour lied, cheated and stole their way back into power?) sitting watching EPMU and Unite and various other leftie rapid unionistas waving placards at bus travellers and seeing their spit flecked lips spout hatred – I thought, there is no way in hell I will vote for you or your bretheren of bludging self entitled losers who take money out of working class peoples pockets to allow you the pleasure of doing fuck all during the day except abuse the tax payer and demand more for nothing.
That is why Boscawen, I imagine, is talking to tax payers who go to work on the bus and train.
HTH’s
xxx
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 8:11 am
John Boscawen, fair play to you for talking yourself up on here, but your “I am” statements are a turn-off. I thought you were going to start saying “I am the way, the truth and the light” for a minute. Perhaps you could tell your leader to keep his eyes on the road instead of texting next time he’s at a set of traffic lights as well.
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 8:15 am
John
Get stuck in mate, I happen to agree with you that centre right voters should give their vote to ACT.
However, of late your party (and the one I voted for at the general election) has not given the people of Mt Albert any bloody reason to do so.
Stop being Neville Key’s lap dog, stop being the right wing version of the Green party and bloody well start attacking the Nat’s for their pathetic middle way they are dealing with the economic downturn.
Key has kicked his traditional supporters in the head, he is pandering to the swing voter and those who expect the govt (here read Tax payer) to bail them out each and every time they face adversity.
Rodney has become strangely silent, he made all the right noises on election night yet since he has seen the “baubles” of office he seems to have become nothing more than a yes man for the Nat’s and Neville Key.
It is time that ACT showed they stood for something different John, it is time that ACT showed the people of Mt Albert (and the rest of NZ) that they have idea’s of their own and that they are not simply there to keep the left out of power.
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 9:35 am
I agree Bruv, ACT should start saying what they feel, they are one of the only parties that would get away with it, no need to pander to the fence sitters. Who cares what the media makes up, I think people are getting sick of the stories they spew forth lately.
Vote:However John did criticise Lee on the news last night for not getting to that debate.
Re:Rodney, perhaps he is busy doing stuff at the moment.
May 20th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Because I know someone who saw you on a New North Road bus last week and they said you didn’t pay for your ride.
That said, I think it’s excellent that you’re engaging with public transport users. Maybe you should tell Steven Joyce about it as he seems to have never heard of the concept.
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Two points …
THe omission of a Winston First candidate is surely proof positive that Party exists only in the fevered imaginations of geriatric locum pharmists and the geriatric man himself.
The ACT candidure is a joke and only serves to split the centre/right vote in a FFP election. Mt Albert is a Labour stronghold although clearly H1 attracted a personal following that may or may not transfer to Shearer but on balance you would have to say that the ‘left’ is odds on to retain the seat. So the question for the centre/right Mt Albert voter to consider is do I vote for Norman in the knowledge that if he were to knock off Shearer it would be a black day for Labour (and a result unlikely to repeat at the next general election) so what’s there to loose?
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 10:25 am
That’s my point too Ross. People who are likely to vote National but shudder at the thought of someone as incompetent as Melissa Lee being their local MP perhaps should consider voting for Norman. It would certainly piss Labour off, but not lead to National losing any seats in parliament.
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Jarbury: your friend is wrong it’s not John’s style to ride the buses for free – he is not one of society’s free loaders.
On the basic analysis John Boscawen is right.
Everyday Mt Albert centre-right voters watch Melissa Lee destroy her own campaign at her own hands. I have never seen anything quite like it. She must be a terrible disappointment to John Key who likes to back new talent.
The only other live option centre right voters is John Boscawen.
What isn’t really an option is to do as the Greens suggest: centre right voters voting Russel Norman out of disappointment with Melissa Lee’s campaign and out of a strong tribal dislike for Labour (I doubt anyone has strong feelings about David Shearer one way or the other).
This would be very odd. Whilst a vote for John Boscawen would not be seen as a rejection of John Key and his Government, it would be seen as a message to National to get on with the job more competently and slightly more dryly; and to pick more competent candidates.
However, a vote for Russel Norman by centre-right voters would be seen as a rejection of John Key and his Government. The media have been pining to declare the honeymoon over this would provide the opportunity. The by election would assume a significance in political analysis that it should not deserve.
In reality Russel Norman’s only chance is to convince Labour voters to tactically reward the Green’s because there is some overwhelming rationale for the Greens to hold a Parliamentary seat. It would have to be a positive campaign about how a Green MP for Mt Albert might assist Phil Goff to form the next Government with the Green’s in support.
The problem is the Russel Norman has been personalising his campaign against Labour in a negative, strong arm way. This is consistent with his personality and his hard left aussie background. He is playing with fundamental aspects of Green branding but not in a very attractive way. They should be worried; softly softly catches the mouse.
Can’t see centre right voters who are concerned about Melissa Lee’s competence going Russel Norman; more likely they will reward John Boscawen or stay home. I cannot see why Labour voters would tactically switch; the Greens offer no positive long term Labour assisting reason for this.
The final remarkable thing about the Mt Albert by election is the extreme low profile of David Shearer – talk about a wallflower; almost a by election by stander. He seems to have as much energy and excitement as a UN conference on the law of the sea.
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 11:13 am
So you’ve decided to go with a negative campaign Toad. How refreshing.
Vote:May 20th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Jarbury ( 10.04am) you and your friend and both wrong.
I do not ride the buses for free.
An all day ticket costs $11 and I produce it every time I get on board.
As for the trains I do not ride those. I just stand at the stations. That is free and there is plenty of waiting time between trains for those interested enough to read my material. In any event they are crowded and we desperately need more rolling stock.
You might like to read Chris Diach’s analysis. I think he is very close.
Vote:May 22nd, 2009 at 1:23 am
Why is it all of a sudden Russel Norman is a worthy candidate? Only a few months ago most people were were saying he was the most irrelevant person in the house.
John on the other hand was (rightly) cheered by the majority here for his bloody hard work fighting the EFA. And now what?
Some of you guys are really ungrateful and have awfully short memories. If you’re not voting Melissa then you must vote for John. I don’t even know why some of you are even considering voting Greens…. how sad!
Vote: