Cook retires

Stuff reports:

Stephanie Cook has announced she will not stand again for the Wellington City Council in October.

Cr Cook, a veteran of local politics, has represented the Lambton ward for 18 years.

She is retiring to run a bed and breakfast on a lifestyle block in the Tararua Ranges.

First elected in 1995, she holds the social affairs portfolio under Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.

Under Mayor Kerry Prendergast, she was one of the leading opponents of the inner-city bypass project.

Aligned with the left of city politics, she was a member of the Greens until 1999 and then stood as a councillor for the Alliance.

Stephanie’s retirement opens up god good opportunities in Lambton Ward for aspiring Councillors. It is very difficult to beat incumbents as name recognition is very influential on voting behaviours – unless the incumbent is very unpopular. So having a retirement of an incumbent is the best opportunity for aspiring new Councilors.