If you’re running as a candidate in the local elections, or still wavering on whether to, better get your skates on. Make the decision.
Your candidate nomination form has to be submitted to the election authorities by midday on Friday, only hours away.
You need the signatures of two nominators and some of their details. That information takes time to gather.
If you’re a serious candidate, you decided months ago and know why. And you have a plan and signed nomination form.
That’s why it was slightly alarming to read on Tuesday, three days before candidate nominations close on August 1, there were not enough declared candidates to fill all the vacant Howick Local Board and Auckland councillor ward seats.
One can almost hear the rustling of candidate nomination forms under the arms of candidates running to the election officer’s office or proxy.
One hopes so. Democracy depends on members of the public stepping forward to represent their fellow citizens and local communities, and in their collective best efforts and interests. Elected public service. Politics. It’s a popularity contest, and of ideas.
The other reason why it was concerning to read from the council on Tuesday was the slight panic in its language, a subtle sign it was worried not enough candidates will vie for the available seats in the Auckland Council triennial elections of September and October.
The three-week postal ballot with its election day on October 11.
On July 29, the council’s governance and engagement general manager Lou-Ann Ballantyne said: “Here’s your chance to look around, think of that influencer in your life and give them a nudge to put their abilities into motion.
“Encourage a friend, a workmate or family member, to embrace the challenge and play a key role in our region’s plans.
“Strategic thinking, and the ability to communicate and collaborate, are ideal skills for candidates, so if this sounds like your person – we want to hear from them.”
That’s a lot to think about with three days to candidate nomination cut-off. Regional planning is a very large encompassing subject. Can you contemplate that? For the best possible result for your community?
So, you’re declared, and your forms are submitted. You must be applauded for running for elected office. It’s time to campaign.
The first goal is to let people know there’s an election happening, what it’s for and when, and how to vote.
Chances are, because you’re being helpful and informative, they’ll vote for you, if they can find and retain the mailed-out ballots papers and cast them at the easily accessible orange election boxes across the community. Libraries are a good starting point.
The first role of election officials and candidates, and those citizens who champion democracy, is to encourage people to vote, to make the engagement with public affairs and rally the turnout.
Because voting percentages of the population across Auckland, and in Howick, have generally sat in the 30 per cent to 40 per cent turnout range for local elections over the past 20 years.
A candidate can always say: “I don’t mind who you vote for, but please vote.”
Then that voter can legitimately complain about policies and make suggestions and representations for causes in the democratic process and public system.
The old saying is: There’s no point whingeing about civic matters if you don’t vote.
Campaigning suggestions:
- Get out and about, be seen in public and make yourself available. Look happy about it.
- Know what you stand for and be able to talk about those things you’re representing.
- Be courteous and don’t force yourself upon anyone. Be respectful of people’s personal space and attention.
- Become a very good listener. For people to be engaged in the political process, they must feel that they’re genuinely being heard.
- It’s good promotion if you’ve got something to hand an elector when you meet them in a public place, such as a brochure, with your name, potential tickets/brands you’re associated with, and information about what your policies are.
- The latter is obviously a form of advertising, and this extends to media advertising, billboards and social media. The more electors see your name out there they’ll recognise that you’re working hard to earn their trust and vote.
Finally, all the best for your respective election campaigns and a favourable result on October 11.
- For an earlier Times story about the number of candidate nominations forms submitted, read: https://www.times.co.nz/news/where-are-all-the-local-elections-candidates-for-east-auckland/
- The writer of this article, PJ (Phil) Taylor, ran unsuccessfully in the by-election for the vacant Auckland Council seat for the Howick ward in 2018 following the death of the late Dick Quax.
