Len Brown’s candidacy
August 31st, 2009 at 11:01 am by David FarrarThe Herald covers the announcement of Manukau Mayor Len Brown that he will stand for Mayor of the new Auckland Council.
Brown, a Labour Party member, is a strong candidate. It will be interesting if anyone else from the left stands.
I hope all candidates will propose specific policies, and cost them, so Aucklanders can know their likely rates level when they vote. Just like we require central Government politicians to reveal their tax policies before an election. That way people get an informed choice.
Brown has a campaign website. However as you see below, they didn’t fully populate it when they launched it.
Around 5 pm, the blank space got replaced by text.
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August 31st, 2009 at 11:11 am
DPF, what is the line of succession when it comes to mayors?
[DPF: Not sure but I think you have a by-election]
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 11:16 am
Bit like National’s Women’s Affairs Policy page, DPF? I see there is now something there, even if it is just one media release about wearing white ribbons.
BTW, even though I’m not sure Len Brown’s totally up to speed on sustainability issues, I hope no-one else from the Left or Green side of the spectrum stands against him – assuming the election is held under FPP, that is.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 11:27 am
A bit of a worry to hear that Len wants Auckland to be the social & multi cultural hub of NZ.Sth Pacific. What about the engine room of the economy. That is far more important. Social & cultural things can come after the regional economy is looked after first. I want economic growth so my children can prosper, not some lazy so called paradise in the South Pacific.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 11:36 am
Toad
“BTW, even though I’m not sure Len Brown’s totally up to speed on sustainability issues”
Ha ha, this is classic green speak, “up to speed” means….as long as he agrees with us and our climate change and sustainability bullshit.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 11:42 am
I certainly hope Brown is going to bring a LOT more to the table than “John Banks sucks monkey arse, I am not John Banks. Thank you” while actual policy isn’t even on the level of the platitudinous. Even if you whole-heartedly agree with the first part of the platform, I know a few Auckland City residents who had a bad case of buyer’s remorse with the similarly-themed Dick Hubbard. And when you’re talking about someone who is going to be (debatably) the most powerful politician in the country, we deserve every candidate to be running a marginally more serious platform that is subject to equally serious scrutiny.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 12:04 pm
His major policy is Separate Maori Wards so that will probably be the first policy stated under ‘What I stand for.’
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Without even looking at Brown’s policies I would trust my gut and vote for him. I believe he would do whatever is the right thing irrespective of being left/right politically. I believe he is a decent human being and someone I could trust. My gut instinct tells me the opposite about John Banks. “Would you buy a used car from this man?”
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Interesting to see that he was launched as the Labour Candidate. It was probably wishful thinking but I was hoping that regional politics would be regional rather than idealogically national and that there would be no part for party political as represented in parliament.
Do we (or even should we) expect to see ACT candidates, Maori Party candidates and National Party candidates in the election with platforms extracted from party political philosophies?
I would rather see a level of tension between Auckland and Parliament rather than have one as a simple subset of the other.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 12:42 pm
David – well said, those are my thoughts but I am a political “noob” and don’t often put my point over in terms that make full sense.
When I look at Brown I do not see left or right. I look at the man, listen to his words, view what his prior actions were. All the things we normally do with people in our lives. For some people in politics apparently you aren’t allowed to betray your “side”.
Incidentally, I left N Ireland in the mid 80′s. After years of witnessing pointless violence the final straw was when I was bailed up in a pub one night for voting for someone’s policies rather than their religion. When I asked the moron why I should vote based on religion he said, “because he’s on our side”. That was the paradox, staunch working class protestants voted blindly for the conservatives, Thatcher etc even though their real roots were traditional union based. Duh.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 12:46 pm
“When I look at Brown I do not see left or right. ”
Then you are not looking hard enough.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Would I buy a car from Len Brown? No. He came across as slimy and untrustworthy on Q+A on Sunday. He also came across badly regarding the maori seats – he said that maoris were well represented without them in South Auckland, but wouldn’t be under a new council – huh?? His logic really doesn’t work.
Vote:Contrast that (unfortunately) to Winston Peters who came across very well, and Mr Hide who made many of the same arguments as Peters but without the emotion that Peters can. At least both of their arguments were valid, though Guyon Espiner was pretty bad in the Hide interview and Holmes was soft on Winston.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:36 pm
If Brown’s candidacy and campaign is anything like Hubbard’s was I doubt you will see much policy. Indeed, his opening speech is simply full of platitudes and puffery. There is, and will not be in my view, any substance. Obama was the same. He just gave good speeches using emotive language with no policy, in fact he has followed much of Bush’s policies. Brown will be the same. Banks will have policy, of that there will be no doubt.
Gazza, I agree re Guyon. He was disgracefully partisan against Hide and Winston just gets away with murder always.
I also add I think it’s great that Brown has identified with the Left/Labour. At least people will know where he stands and that is good for transparent elections.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 2:11 pm
As someone that has had the privilege to work alongside Len Brown recently I do intend to cast my vote in his favour and I know that most South Aucklander’s will too. This is not a vote I make on the basis of his national political affiliation nor is it a vote in favour of everything he stands for, but having that privilege to know him well I do believe that as of now he is the best candidate for the position.
He has the right skills, the right experience, the right attitude and the right kind of motivation that will see him rise to the occasion!
If the candidacies of John Banks and Paul Holmes are anything to go by I don’t see my voting ballot paper being challenged anytime soon.
Len Brown has the right policies in the right areas and I look forward to the first campaign of its kind in New Zealand history.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 2:19 pm
>>I also add I think it’s great that Brown has identified with the Left/Labour. At least people will know where he stands and that is good for transparent elections.
About time too – I knew a Nazi sympathiser that voted for him at the last local elections
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Funny, I saw him on television last night saying very explicitly that he was NOT running as the Labour candidate, that he has always run as an independent, and will be running as an independent.
I have no doubt his politics are to the left of John Banks, but then most people’s are. I suspect that it is Mr Banks and his supporters who want to paint Brown as a left winger, not Mr Brown.
I noted with amusement Banks saying that he wanted as many challengers as possible. Of course! Split the opposition to John Banks! That’s probably the only way he’ll get the job.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I see Brown’s @ 28c on ipredict…very good price I think.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Brown also stated that he was a member of the Liabour party on Q&A, he mentioned that the party had not endorsed any candidate as yet.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 6:11 pm
If the first thing that comes out of his mouth is “culture” and the second thing is “diversity” Len Brown is not the right mayor for Auckland. If he had said “streamlined and efficient” or “ratepayer value” OK but not that wishy washy left speak that I heard on Q + A.
Vote:August 31st, 2009 at 7:51 pm
If Len gets in the wheels are going to fall off Auckland big time.
Yes Banks can be a tosser sometimes but I would trust a multi billion dollar local economy to him before the Brown/Harvey ticket.
Why would you want that idiot Hubbard publically backing you. Hubbard is a great advert for why the city doesn’t need a left wing mayor.
Vote:September 2nd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Southern Raider I take it your not a very well informed Auckland resident?
The Auckland City Council is as good as dry in terms of Asset ownership and management, expenditure and debt (having the city’s highest debt for all the city councils) and also in terms of its shabby water way and waste services, etc.
If we compare this to the Manukau City Council, it in fact is the only council that decided consistently to hold on to its Auckland Airport shares, it has one of the lowest debts in the North island region for local councils and it has implemented policies that work best for its residents/ratepayers alike. All its water way/waste services are up to date and close to new, our assets are well managed and our investments are secure.
If I was to compare this between the campaigns of Banks and Brown (or Auckland City with the Manukau City Council) – Len Brown would win hands down.
In fact one reason for this whole “super city proposal” in the first place was most probably to deal with the Auckland City Council’s failures to re invest in the CBD in time for the world cup!
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