1977 Lower Hutt mayoral election explained

Election Name:1977 Lower Hutt mayoral election
Country:New Zealand
Flag Image:Lower Hutt COA.jpg
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1974 Lower Hutt mayoral election
Previous Year:1974
Next Election:1980 Lower Hutt mayoral election
Next Year:1980
Election Date:8 October 1977
Turnout:18,446 (43.00%)
Candidate1:John Kennedy-Good
Party1:Lower Hutt Citizens' Association
Popular Vote1:9,627
Percentage1:52.19
Candidate2:Ernie Barry
Party2:New Zealand Labour Party
Popular Vote2:7,767
Percentage2:42.10
Mayor
Before Election:John Kennedy-Good
After Election:John Kennedy-Good

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

Background

The incumbent Mayor, John Kennedy-Good, stood for a fourth term. The election was held after major flooding in December 1976. The council did not have the resources to fix the damages and had to ask the government for assistance. Prime Minister Robert Muldoon visited the flood affected areas, however antagonisms between Muldoon and some Labour Party councillors led to the funds being delayed. Once they came through the council was able to help the neighbourhoods affected. In the aftermath the council struggled to cope with building consenting administration in the flood affected areas. This caused voters to perceive the council as inept on the issue. The situation harmed Kennedy-Good who suffered a much decreased majority against his main challenger, councillor Ernie Barry, and also the Citizens' lost their large council majority, with the Labour Party winning a majority of seats.[1] Labour's majority went down from 2 seats to 1 when councillor Lawrie Woodley defected to the Citizens' mid-term.

References

Notes and References

  1. News: Amended Count Confirms Labour in Seats of Power in Lower Hutt . . 13 October 1977 . 44 .