Sir Tim Shadbolt's long-time partner to contest by-election
“He’s been pushing me to do this for some time and I guess now he has exited politics I feel more comfortable.”
Sir Tim Shadbolt’s long-time partner Asha Dutt will contest the Invercargill City Council by-election.
The council confirmed Dutt’s nomination on Thursday morning.
The by-election has been prompted following the resignation of second-term councillor Nigel Skelt last month.
Barring one term, Shadbolt was Invercargill’s mayor from 1993 through to 2022 when he missed re-election.
Dutt told The Tribune Shadbolt was “absolutely delighted” she was now having her own crack at politics.
In fact, Shadbolt tried to convince Dutt to stand at the last election alongside him.
“He’s been pushing me to do this for some time and I guess now he has exited politics I feel more comfortable.”
Dutt said it was the events that triggered the by-election that made her mind up that she wanted to stand.
“A number of people are outraged in the community, and it’s like there’s a cone of silence that’s fallen over the council and councillors over what happened to trigger the by-election.
“I figure the public has a right to transparency and accountability…. And if we can’t get the basics right, in terms of process, the bigger issues are really going to suffer.”
Given Dutt has had a up close look at the way the council has operated for the past 26 years she believed she was well set up to hit the ground running as a councillor.
Dutt is born and breed in Invercargill and has a law degree.
During her time as the “mayoress” there was some tension between Dutt, council staff and elected members over various matters.
It included with current mayor Nobby Clark toward the back end of the latest term.
Dutt and Shadbolt was reluctant to work with Clark over a potential civic tribute for Shadbolt.
“You’d have to go into a council, into a team of 12 other people, willing to be a team member. If you can’t do that you shouldn’t be standing,” Dutt says about the potential of now working with Clark at the council table.
“By the same token people have to know that they need to be accountable. If they are not being held accountable, I’ll be pushing for that.”
Dutt was one of two candidates to come forward on the final day on Thursday before nominations closed at noon.
The other was Tom Morton, who unsuccessfully stood for both mayor and a council seat at October’s election.
They join David Hicks, Carl Heenan, Graham Lewis, Andrea Murrell, Lisa Tou-McNaughton, David Pottinger, David Meades, Steve Broad, Sebastien Fabre, Ian Reeves, Terry King, and Rob Te Maiharoa in a list of 14 candidates.
Once the nomination period ended the election period would begin, with voting opening on 13 July and Election Day held on August 4.