The Star: June 13, 2019

Montre
Dur
Caledonian Rd
Colombo St
Sherborne St
The Star Thursday June 13 2019
• By Jess Gibson
PAPANUI LOOKS like it will be
one of the most hotly contested
wards in October’s local body
elections.
Left-leaning political group
The People’s Choice has named
Nathan McCluskey as its
candidate for the election.
The owner and managing
director of a research
consultancy firm lives in
Papanui. Mr McCluskey will
take on incumbent Mike
Davidson and Papanui-Innes
Community Board member
John Stringer for the city council
spot and will also stand for a
seat on the community board
against Mr Stringer and a second
The People’s Choice candidate,
Merav Benaia.
He may also be up against
Think Papanui’s Simon Britten,
who is yet to announce whether
he will run for the city council or
a community board seat.
Mr McCluskey stood for
the community board spot
under The People’s Choice
banner in 2016 but polled
fourth behind Emma Norrish
and Mr Stringer, who were
elected, and Mr Britten.
Cr Davidson said he is looking
forward to the challenges this
year’s election will bring and
hopes more candidates will
result in a higher voter turnout.
“I think it adds to better
democracy; it’s important that
we get more people running.”
He went head-to-head for
Papanui’s city council seat
against Mr Stringer in the 2016
elections and received 3316 votes
compared to Mr Stringer’s 2364.
Cr Davidson said he is
confident about maintaining
his position because of the work
he has done within the Papanui
Ward and throughout the city,
such as trying to reduce rates.
“I’ve had a chat with
news online at www.star.kiwi
Elections start to heat up
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Nathan
McCluskey
John Stringer
Mike Davidson
Simon Britten
(Mr McCluskey) and he’s
quite a nice chap. I’m not
sure if he offers too much
more than what I offer
but that’s fine, that’s what
democracy is all about.”
“Quite frankly, I don’t
really believe party politics
belongs in local government,
but obviously that’s their
decision.”
Mr McCluskey said his
campaign will be positive
and future-focused.
“That means being positive
and future-focused. I
believe in the power of local
democracy to represent the
best interests of engaged
communities. That means
protecting natural resources
like water so they are
sustainable for my lifetime
and future generations,”
said Mr McCluskey.
The People’s Choice did
not run anyone for the
Papanui council spot in the
2016 elections.
The People’s Choice chairman
Keir Leslie said the group was
fortunate this time round to
have strong candidates willing to
put their hand up for council.
“Mr McCluskey has got a lot
of skills. As a business owner,
he’s aware of what it takes to
make the sums add up at the
end of the month. He’s got really
strong values and would make a
great councillor,” said Mr Leslie.
• By Julia Evans
LEE SAMPSON is set to contest
the city council’s Cashmere
Ward in the local body elections.
The current Spreydon-
Cashmere Community Board
member has been announced
as Labour-aligned group The
People’s Choice’s
candidate to run
against incumbent Tim
Scandrett.
Mr Sampson said he
would bring financial
nous to the city council.
“Community service
is at my core, and
I’m aware of the task
in hand at council,
having previously worked on
the earthquake recovery of
the council’s social housing
portfolio. During this
time, I was instrumental
in cutting out waste and
reducing the new build
delivery costs by up to 50
per cent so more warm
homes could be built
for our most vulnerable
residents,” he said.
Mr Sampson is a
development manager
with 20 years’ experience.
he is also a director of Habitus
Group.
He is a board member for the
Summit Road Society, a Rotarian,
Lee Sampson
Tim
Scandrett
NEWS 15
Sampson to run
for Cashmere seat
on the Age Friendly Spreydon-
Cashmere Steering Board,
was a youth mentor with Big
Brother Big Sister until last
year and a project adviser
for Otakaro Gardens.
Cr Scandrett was elected for his
second term in 2016 unopposed.
He has been a community board
member since 2007.
“I’ve lived in the
area my whole life – I
think I’ve lived in every
suburb starting with S –
so Spreydon, Somerfield,
St Martins.”
Cr Scandrett said the
pair had a lot of similar
values, but he was still
looking forward to a
good campaign.
“It’s professional, not personal.
Obviously I still don’t want
him to win,” he said.
Alongside Mr Sampson,
The People’s
Choice chairman Kier
Leslie will run for the
Cashmere seat on the
community board.
Community board
deputy chairwoman
Melanie Coker has
been named to run for
the city council seat in
the Spreydon Ward in place of
incumbent city councillor
Phil Clearwater, who is not
standing.
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Papanui Vict
41 Caledonian Road, St Albans, Christchurch.
www.stalbansretirement.co.nz
Bealey Ave
Park