PHOTO
Two incumbent city councillors will go head-to-head - and more are expected to join them - in the race for Dunedin's mayoralty.
Jim O'Malley, a first-term councillor and key figure behind the "Own the Factory'' chocolate campaign, yesterday confirmed he would stand for both the mayoralty and a council seat at local body elections in October.
He planned to push to reinstate Dunedin's status as one of New Zealand's four major metropolitan centres, as well as taking steps to address transport, housing and climate change issues facing the city.
His announcement came just days after three-term mayor Dave Cull confirmed he would not seek a fourth term in October.
Cr O'Malley will join Cr Aaron Hawkins as the only incumbent DCC councillors to have confirmed bids for the mayoralty.
Crs Lee Vandervis, Christine Garey and Andrew Whiley - all potential challengers - are still keeping their cards close to their chests, as is Dunedin businessman Barry Timmings.
Cr Vandervis did not respond to requests for comment yesterday, while Cr Whiley said he was still on the fence about another mayoral bid.
Cr Garey said Mr Cull's decision to stand down was "significant'', and she was giving "considerable thought to how I might best serve our city'', but was not yet ready to confirm her plans.
Mr Timmings, who challenged Mr Cull unsuccessfully at the 2016 election, said he expected to have "something significant to say'' within weeks.
South Dunedin Labour MP Clare Curran - suggested by some as a potential mayoral candidate in 2016 and again in recent days - said when contacted she ``categorically ruled out'' having any plan to run.
That left Crs O'Malley and Hawkins, as well as Scout Barbour-Evans and Carmen Houlahan - both candidates from outside council - as the only confirmed contenders for Dunedin's mayoralty.
Cr O'Malley said yesterday Mr Cull's decision to stand down opened the door to fresh thinking and ``new blood'' around the council table.
"I think the people that have been there for a while have done a good job, but I am ambitious for bringing in new directions in the council, and you need the space to do that.''
Cr O'Malley wanted to see improvements in process to avoid a "two-tier'' council that excluded some councillors from positions of responsibility, fuelling frustrations around the table.
The council also needed to do more to address the city's looming housing crisis, and the development of "downtown'' apartment blocks - between George St and the one-way highways - was an approach Cr O'Malley favoured.
He also wanted to continue lobbying government on transport issues, including the return of commuter rail, as part of a wider push to reinstate Dunedin's status as one of the four major centres.
Cr O'Malley expected to see more mayoral contenders emerge, including Crs Garey and Vandervis.
Nominations for local body elections open on July 19.