University of Otago Associate Prof Janine Hayward made the comments yesterday as Green Party council and mayoral candidate Cr Aaron Hawkins confirmed he was seeking a full-time equivalent campaign co-ordinator for this October's Dunedin City Council election.
The position was largely paid for by local fundraising, but the wider party was contributing some of the cost, Cr Hawkins said.
This comes as Green Party leader Metiria Turei said the memorandum of understanding it signed with Labour yesterday would include working together in the 2016 local government elections.
Last month, the Labour Party dropped its idea of running a bloc of candidates for Dunedin City Council.
Prof Hayward said the Green Party helping fund a paid campaign manager was part of a wider trend.
"The Greens are the party who seem to be making the biggest moves in terms of connecting their party to local politics,'' Prof Hayward said.
In doing so it was taking advantage of its party structure, which relied heavily on well-organised "local networks''.
The move towards increased political party involvement in local body politics was a polarising issue.
"Some people think it's sensible and helpful for voters to get a shortcut to understanding what that person would stand for.
"Other people really strongly object to parties having anything to do with local politics because they want Wellington to stay in Wellington and because they think that council politics is different, that it's more apolitical and pragmatic.''
Cr Hawkins said it was hoped having a paid campaign manager - which was a position he did not have at the last elections - would make his candidacy more competitive.
"Wherever possible, people should be paid for their efforts and if we are in a position where we are able to pay someone who is working a full-time equivalent job then that only seems fair.''
There was "nothing new'' about campaigns paying people for their services.
"Whoever designs your flyers, makes your billboards, or places your ads in the newspaper expects to be paid.
"I don't see this as any different.''
The Green Party was also advertising for campaign managers in Wellington and Palmerston North, where it also had candidates.
Mayor Dave Cull said there was nothing unusual about paying a campaign manager as part of a mayoral campaign.
He would pay for "professional assistance'' with his campaign, which might not take the form of hiring a campaign manager, but could include anything from paying designers to copy writers.
Cr Andrew Whiley, who has also announced he is standing for mayor, said he did not have the resources to fund a full-time equivalent campaign manager.
However, he was planning on paying someone to help with social media.
