By-election for Cambridge

17 October 2013

Waipa District Council must hold a by-election to fill a vacant spot on the Cambridge Community Board.

Five candidates - John Bishop, Philip Coles, Sue Milner, Mike Pettit and Richard Wright- stood for four vacancies on the Board. Mr Bishop and Mrs Milner also stood for Waipa District Council and both were successful, leaving a Board vacancy to be filled.

The other three seats on the seven-member Board will go to Elwyn Andree-Wiltens (elected unopposed to represent Maungatautari) plus two District Councillors (one from Cambridge ward and one from Maungatautari ward) who are yet to be appointed.

Waipa's deputy electoral officer Jennie McFarlane said under the Local Electoral Act 2001, Council had no choice but to hold a by-election and will officially call for nominations on November 25. Nominations will close just before Christmas.

Only Cambridge ward voters, about 12,600 people, will be eligible to vote in the postal election which is set to run from January 20 2014 until February 11 2014. If voters are eligible to vote in the election, but are not on the electoral roll, they can make a special vote at Council offices.

Mrs McFarlane said should only one person be nominated, they will be elected unopposed and the result will be declared on December 28 2013. If not, and the election is contested, a postal vote is required and the outcome will not be officially known until February 16 next year.

The by-election is likely to cost Council between $30,000 and $40,000.

Meanwhile, final election results are now available on the Waipa District Council website www.waipadc.govt.nz

For further information contact:

Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of Council)

027 5077 599