Choice for Wanaka ward

Voters in  the Upper Clutha will have the choice of who will fill the vacant Queenstown Lakes District Council Wanaka ward seat now community board deputy chairman Quentin Smith has announced he will stand in the upcoming by-election.

Former Queenstown Lakes district councillor Jude Battson has also signalled she will run in the by-election, which was called after Ella Lawton resigned to run for the vacant Dunstan ward seat on the Otago Regional Council.

If only one nomination had been received for the seat, that person would have been declared the winner and a by-election would not have been needed. At the local body elections in September, Ms Battson was the fourth-highest-polling Wanaka ward candidate with 1670 votes. Mr Smith was fifth with 1560. 

If Mr Smith  were elected, another by-election  would need to be called to fill the empty seat  on the Wanaka Community Board.

Each Wanaka ward councillor is automatically a community board member. Community board members do not have to step down to  stand in elections for other local authorities, so Mr Smith will continue  as deputy chairman.

Since the resignation of Dr Lawton, Mr Smith said he had been approached by people who encouraged him to stand in the by-election.

As  deputy chairman of the community board, Mr Smith said he was already engaged with the community on a daily basis and would continue to be a strong advocate for the area, particularly on the council’s long-term plan, if elected. Nominations for the Wanaka ward seat close at noon on June 1 and the election will be held on July 28 and be conducted by postal vote.