1941 Auckland City mayoral election explained

Election Name:1941 Auckland City mayoral election
Country:New Zealand
Flag Image:Coat of arms of Auckland.svg
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1938 Auckland City mayoral election
Previous Year:1938
Next Election:1944 Auckland City mayoral election
Next Year:1944
Election Date:17 May 1941
Turnout:32,969 (50.19%)
Candidate1:John Allum
Party1:Citizens & Ratepayers
Popular Vote1:16,353
Percentage1:49.60
Candidate2:Joe Sayegh
Party2:New Zealand Labour Party
Popular Vote2:15,010
Percentage2:45.52
Mayor
Before Election:Sir Ernest Davis
After Election:John Allum

The 1941 Auckland City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1941, elections were held for the Mayor of Auckland plus other local government positions including twenty-one city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

The election saw deputy-mayor John Allum defeating the Labour nominee Joe Sayegh who suffered defeat for the third time in succession. Sayegh did not stand for the council as an inducement to vote for him as mayor, but he was elected to the Harbour Board and Hospital Board. The only successful Labour candidate for the council was Mary Dreaver, with the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket winning all other council seats.

Background

Citizens & RatepayersThe incumbent mayor Sir Ernest Davis declined to seek a further term. After Davis' retirement the deputy mayor John Allum and councillor Arthur Bailey were seen as likely replacements as the Citizens & Ratepayers Association nominee for mayor.[1] At a meeting chaired by James Donald the Citizens & Ratepayers Association committee selected Allum as the mayoral candidate.[2]
LabourThe Labour Party had six people nominated for the mayoralty:

Sayegh was elected as the Labour candidate at a selection meeting of party delegates.[3]

OthersTwo independent candidates also stood. James William Payne, who stood for mayor in 1938, and Charles Bailey, formerly a Labour city councillor from 1933 to 1938.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Probable Candidates . . 12 February 1941 . LXXVIII . 23888 . 11 .
  2. News: City Election - Candidates Chosen . . 25 February 1941 . LXXVIII . 23899 . 9 .
  3. News: Sayegh Once More To Be Mayoralty Candidate . . 20 March 1941 . 3 .
  4. News: Nominations . . 5 May 1941 . LXXII . 104 . 8 .