Epsom race heats up

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 at 10:00 am

Belinda McCammon writes:

Former Auckland City councillor Paul Goldsmith, who has written biographies on John Banks and Don Brash, says he will contest the National Party nomination for Epsom.

Goldsmith said he had decided over the weekend to contest the nomination, which will pit him against former councillor Aaron Bhatnagar.

Both served on the now defunct Auckland City Council after being elected in 2007.

Goldsmith’s declaration comes after he unsuccessfully sought the North Shore nomination this year, with delegates selecting broadcaster Maggie Barry.

Goldsmith also stood unsuccessfully as the National Party candidate in Maungakiekie in 2005.

At least three people are known to be standing for selection in Epsom, with the National Party deputy regional chairman for Auckland, Denise Krum, also confirming she’d seek the nomination.

I know Aaron, Paul and Denise. All would be good MPs.

Aaron is the former City Councillor for the ward which covers most of the electorate and has just stood down as the Epsom Electorate Chair.

Paul is also a former City Councillor, the biographer to Don Brash and John banks and before that Press Secretary to Phil Goff and Simon Upton.

I’ve blogged on Denise before, who is very active in National in Northern Region.

It will be very interesting to see if anyone else stands, and then the selection itself.

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United Future President joins National

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 at 8:17 pm

One of my spies has just informed me that the United Future President, Denise Krum, resigned a short time ago off the United Future Board, and has joined the National Party. Her replacement is Deputy Leader Judy Turner.

I also understand that two other board members resigned last week. This adds to the speculation that United Future will not be around after the next election. In some ways it is a pity – they have a proven track record of being a moderate and reasonable coalition partner, but I guess the centre has just got too crowded.

Denise is what I regard as a good catch for National. I blogged in September:

Denise is UFNZ Party President and seems quite an able sort. She did quite well appearing for UFNZ for the broadcasting allocations.

Denise was ranked No 3 on the United Future list in 2008.

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The United Future List

Sunday, September 7th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

Idiot/Savant has the full United Future list, along with how it has changed from last time. The top ten are:

  1. Peter Dunne
  2. Judy Turner
  3. Denise Krum
  4. Graeme Reeves
  5. Selio Solomon
  6. Murray Smith
  7. Neville Wilson
  8. Frank Owen
  9. Janet Tuck
  10. Karuna Muthu

I don’t know Selio Solomon, but can comment on Denise Krum and Graeme Reeves. Denise is UFNZ Party President and seems quite an able sort. She did quite well appearing for UFNZ for the broadcasting allocations.

Graeme Reeves was National MP for Miramar from 1990 to 1993. He was a good MP then, and would be again today. Plus I always have a soft spot for Graeme as he took the lead in Caucus in the early 1990s in expelling a certain W Peters from the Caucus.

So if the election saw United Future get up to four MPs, I’d have no problem with that – so long as they don’t take votes from the centre-right only.

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