Former Green Mayors not popular

The ODT reports:

Jo Galer is on track to win the Dunedin City Council by-election over former mayor Aaron Hawkins.

At 1.30pm today, Ms Galer (8845 votes) was in first place and Aaron Hawkins (8099 votes) was second, followed by Conrad Stedman (6482 votes) in third.

The result is based on counting of about 85% of returned voting papers.

It takes a special talent to go from being elected Mayor, to being unable to even win a ward seat. Tory Whanau managed it, and now Aaron Hawkins. The final result was very close, but again so rare for a former Mayor to be unable to even win a seat.

Ms Galer, who was endorsed by Crs Russell Lund and Lee Vandervis, stood on a platform of prioritising basic infrastructure including in South Dunedin, capping rates and stopping cycleways.

Sounds a popular position.