Former deputy mayor not considering shot at by-election

Two further candidates - David Meades and David Pottinger - officially entered the by-election contest on Tuesday.

Toni Biddle.

Former deputy mayor Toni Biddle will not be contesting the August 4 Invercargill City Council by-election.

Biddle stood for the Invercargill mayoralty at the October election last year and finished second, close to 3000 votes behind Nobby Clark.

Biddle was previously deputy mayor under Sir Tim Shadbolt’s before resigning from the council in 2020 which prompted a by-election that Marcus Lush won.

There was some speculation that Biddle would stand in the looming council by-election but she told The Tribune: “No, I’m definitely not considering now”.

The by-election has been prompted following the resignation of second-term councillor Nigel Skelt last month.

Two further candidates - David Meades and David Pottinger - officially entered the by-election contest on Tuesday.

They join David Hicks, Carl Heenan, Graham Lewis, Andrea Murrell, and Lisa Tou-McNaughton who have already registered as candidates.

Pottinger - the brother of current councillor Ian Pottinger - ran in the past two elections without getting a seat at the table.

Pottinger has previously held management positions at Southland meat works, the Southern Institute of Technology, and Fonterra’s Edendale plant.

He is heavily involved in the Invercargill drama scene.

Meanwhile, Meades is a qualified carpenter and lead builder at Chris Romero Building.

He has listed three key policies around “keep housing cheap”, road speed referendum” and safer city safer streets”.

“With my building experience, I have good insight into tackling our housing crisis. The current zoning is out of date and driving prices up. More sections mean more houses, which means more ratepayers, so we need to unlock land and grow our city.”

“Recent changes to our speeds on our rural roads is frustrating drivers, slowing down our economy, and was done with minimal consultation. For something that affects everyone, more consultation, if not a referendum should have determined these changes.

“I also want to take action against the growing crime in our city. We need to keep our businesses and community safe, clean up our streets, and make Invercargill a great place to live.”

The nomination period for candidates wishing to stand in local body elections closes this week.

Nominations for the Invercargill City Council by-election opened on 11 May and will close on Thursday, 8 June at 12 noon.

Council had received 6 nominations thus far; David John Hicks, Carl Edward Heenan,

Graham Lewis, Andrea Murrell, Lisa Tou-McNaughton and David Pottinger.

Council Deputy Electoral Officer and Manager Governance and Legal Michael Morris said the by-election was triggered following the resignation of a councillor earlier in the year.

“Council is required under the Local Electoral Act 2001 to hold a by-election if a vacancy occurs more than 12 months before the next triennial general election,” he said.

It was not too late to decide to stand in the by-election, despite the looming deadline.

“Even though nominations close on Thursday there is still time to get your nomination in to us,” Morris said.

“In saying that, if you have made up your mind don’t leave it to the last minute.”

Candidates must be New Zealand citizens aged 18 years and over and must be on the electoral roll. They must also be nominated by two people who are enrolled in the area they want to stand in.

All of the information about what is needed in order to be nominated is covered in the Candidate Handbook as well as on the Council website, he said.

Once the nomination period ended the election period would begin, with voting opening on 13 July and Election Day held on August 4.