12 Thursday <strong>December</strong> <strong>13</strong> <strong>2018</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong>
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Thursday <strong>December</strong> <strong>13</strong> <strong>2018</strong> <strong>13</strong> News CHRISTCHURCH CASINO’S TEAM: Lianne Dalziel and city councillors. She will stand again for mayor in the local body elections next year. People’s Choice leader and Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner (front row, third from left) won’t now contest the mayoralty. Achieving milestones and resolving unfinished business IT WAS June when my husband, Rob, and I went to the Cancer Society Ball. We heard the message loud and clear – each day 60 New Zealanders will hear the words “I’m sorry, you have cancer.” For us it was only a few weeks later. Rob came back from overseas feeling unwell. He went to the doctor and began a barrage of tests. Finally a bone scan and a biopsy confirmed it was prostate cancer. It came as a big shock. I haven’t talked publicly before now, because the question from the media since July is whether I’m going to run for mayor again. As I’m sure you will understand, this has required additional thought. I personally don’t think it’s necessary to make the decision so far out from the election, given that so much can occur between now and then. • By Julia Evans LIANNE DALZIEL’S decision to run for a third term means left-aligned People’s Choice will wait another three years before putting up a mayoral candidate. Leader and Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner said he would only stand for the position in the October 12 local body elections in the event that Ms Dalziel bowed out. “Lianne is very aware of my position – that I would run only if she did not,” he said. It is the reason Ms Dalziel has announced her intentions 10 months early, in spite of saying in June she would make a decision However, with some potential candidates indicating that they would be willing to serve if I was not going to put my name forward, I’ve decided to make that call now. Rob has responded well to treatment, and there is every Mayor Lianne Dalziel after the Long Term Plan had been finalised. “I personally don’t think it’s necessary to make the decision so far out from the election, given that so much can occur between now and then,” she said. “However, with some potential candidates indicating that they would be willing to serve if I was not going to put my name forward, I’ve decided to make that call now.” Ms Dalziel won her first mayoral race in 20<strong>13</strong> to take over from Bob Parker, who did not stand. She had a majority of almost 50,000 over closest rival, businessman Paul Lonsdale. At the time, she said it would be her only term. reason to be confident we have many years ahead of us. I’ve also been encouraged to run again by many community and business leaders, as well as countless residents who have offered their support as we’ve come into contact on the street, in the supermarket and at events. We’ve come a long way as a city in the past five years, and there are a few more milestones to be achieved before the election. However, there is unfinished business, which I believe I am well-placed to help resolve, and therefore I intend to stand next year. Turner: ‘I would run only if she did not’ In 2016, Ms Dalziel announced her intention to run five months before the election. That year she received 75,524 votes, 62,407 more than closest rival, activist John Minto. Previously Ms Dalziel was a Labour cabinet minister and MP for Christchurch East. Cr Turner said he believed he would be an “effective and successful” mayor. But he would be happy to remain a councillor. “If that is not the opportunity which is present for me in 2019, I will also be very happy to continue to achieve the best for my Banks Peninsula Ward and for the city by continuing in my current role,” he said. $ 15,000 CASH MUST GO every WEEK! ENTRY IS FREE THURSDAY 10K CASH FRIDAY 5K CASH Receive a free wristband when you visit on Thursdays & Fridays evenings. Winners must be present. VISIT CHCHCASINO.co.nz FOR T&C’S