A by-election is yet to officially be called, but at least one person is already lining up to replace Ella Lawton on the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).
Cr Lawton announced on Monday she would be standing for the Otago Regional Council's Dunstan ward seat, left vacant by the death of her mother Maggie Lawton.
Under the Local Electoral Act, a district councillor is not allowed to be a candidate in an election for a regional council and vice-versa. Cr Lawton will resign from the district council some time in the coming month.
This will trigger a by-election for her Wanaka ward seat on the QLDC.
Former district councillor and Wanaka Community Board member Jude Battson signalled yesterday she would stand in any resulting district council by-election.
Ms Battson said she was excited about the possibility of serving on the council again, but also saddened by the circumstances.
''I love the job and I have learnt so much from my previous term and want to continue that work.''
At the local body elections in September, Ms Battson was the fourth-highest polling Wanaka ward candidate with 1670 votes.
Wanaka ward councillor Ross McRobbie beat her by 180 votes.
