Deputy mayor post a 'poisoned chalice'

A thwarted attempt by Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt to remove his deputy mayor on Tuesday night may leave the city without a replacement, as no councillor seems willing to take the "poisoned chalice".

A "bloodless" attempt to replace deputy mayor Neil Boniface at a council meeting was stymied when Mr Shadbolt's chosen replacement, long-serving councillor Geoff Piercy, reneged on a previous agreement with his mayor.

Mr Shadbolt said he was disappointed by that decision.

"I didn't want it to be a bloodbath. I wanted it done with dignity," he told the Otago Daily Times on Tuesday.

Mr Shadbolt said he had lost confidence in his deputy, and planned to call a meeting to discuss the issue when he returned from a trip to Norway.

Asked if the meeting would be behind closed doors, Mr Shadbolt said he would prefer it to be in the open.

"I think it would be a brave council to force a deputy on to a mayor that has lost confidence in him."

Yesterday, Cr Piercy said he had agreed to accept the position of deputy mayor for the remainder of his last term as councillor, but was not aware it was because Mr Shadbolt wanted rid of Cr Boniface.

He had not joined the council to get caught up in such rubbish.

"I went on the council to serve the people," he said.

Cr Boniface had done a sterling job filling in for Mr Shadbolt while the high-profile mayor was away from the city, but it would be difficult for him to stay if the man who recommended him "wants him gone", Mr Piercy said.

It was unlikely anyone would want the "poisoned chalice" of the position, and the city might have to see if it could complete the term without a deputy mayor, he said.

Councillors said they were unsure if Cr Boniface was still the deputy mayor after his decision to resign at the beginning of the meeting, only for Cr Piercy to turn down the position and offer it back. Cr Boniface did not return calls yesterday.

Several councillors said they voted for Cr Boniface on the proviso he was recommended by the mayor, and now that support had been withdrawn his position was untenable.

A Local Government New Zealand spokesman said the council was required to have a deputy mayor, but by yesterday no-one had indicated a willingness to stand for the position.

- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz