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1977 Porirua mayoral election

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1977 Porirua mayoral election

← 1974 8 October 1977 1980 →
Turnout10,875 (62.14%)
 
Candidate Whitford Brown Helen Smith Alastair Maclean
Party Independent Values Labour
Popular vote 4,526 3,208 2,226
Percentage 41.61 29.49 20.46

Mayor before election

Whitford Brown

Elected mayor

Whitford Brown

The 1977 Porirua mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. The elections were held for the role of Mayor of Porirua plus other local government positions including fifteen city councillors, also elected triennially. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

Background

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The incumbent Mayor, Whitford Brown, sought re-election for a sixth term. In 1975 Brown had been caught and convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. He spent time afterward, including during the election campaign, in treatment for alcoholism at Hanmer Springs. Four councillors challenged him including two official party candidates from Labour and the Values Party. Brown had been an active Labour member in the past and was endorsed by Labour in all previous elections. Two other former Labour ticket councillors (Ted Taylor and Rex Willing) also challenged Brown.[1] For standing as an independent against the official Labour ticket, Willing was later expelled from the party.[2]

Mayoral results

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1977 Porirua mayoral election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Whitford Brown 4,526 41.61 −29.49
Values Helen Smith 3,208 29.49
Labour Alastair Maclean 2,226 20.46
Independent Ted Taylor 510 4.68 −22.40
Independent Rex Willing 405 3.72
Majority 1,318 12.11 −31.90
Turnout 10,875 62.14

Councillor results

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1977 Porirua City Council election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Porirua Ward (12 vacancies)[4]
Labour George Moke 5,046 61.40 +2.19
Labour John Burke 4,713 53.33 −9.80
Values Helen Smith 4,632 52.59 −14.80
Labour Margaret Brown 4,500 51.37
Labour Pamela Ann Jackson 4,174 48.38
Independent Maxine Arnold 4,076 46.48 −9.49
Labour Ivan Hardgrave 4,019 46.95 +2.36
Labour David Isaia 4,019 46.95 +3.50
Labour Terry O'Brien 3,809 45.02 +1.34
Labour Tom Janes 3,791 44.85
Labour Eric McKenzie 3,741 44.40
Independent Hec Stuart 3,552 42.66 −11.05
Labour Phil O'Connell 3,476 41.96 +6.26
Labour James Clark 3,444 41.66
Independent Peter Church 2,943 37.06 −11.97
Labour Gavin Seamark 2,860 36.29
Independent Rex Willing 2,822 35.94 −5.37
Independent Alf Mexted 2,389 31.96 −11.17
Independent Aileen Dette 2,364 31.73 −19.11
Independent John Barnett 2,344 31.55
Independent Lester Dobson 2,076 29.08
Socialist Action Ken Stanton 1,292 21.88
Taupo Ward (2 vacancies)[5]
Independent Jan Bennett unopposed
Independent Colin Beyer unopposed
Pukerua Bay Ward (1 vacancy)[6]
Independent Ferdinand Dreyer 344 51.42
Values William Dyas 325 48.58

References

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  1. ^ Cleland, Marian (10 October 1977). "Mayor With A Problem Thanks Porirua Voters". The Evening Post. p. 12.
  2. ^ Hayward, Margaret (1981). Diary of the Kirk Years. Auckland: Reed Publishing. p. 319. ISBN 0589013505.
  3. ^ "City of Porirua - Election of Mayor". The Evening Post. 15 October 1977. p. 30.
  4. ^ "City of Porirua - Election of Twelve Councillors—Porirua Ward". The Evening Post. 15 October 1977. p. 30.
  5. ^ "City of Porirua - Election of (2) Councillors For The Taupo Ward". The Evening Post. 15 October 1977. p. 30.
  6. ^ "City of Porirua - Election of One Councillor—Pukeura Bay Ward". The Evening Post. 6 September 1977. p. 28.