Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says advertising — and spending — for elections can be about raising candidates’ profiles in communities, but it can also help hopefuls tell their "stories".
Mr Kircher spent nothing in 2016 to overcome a relatively unknown challenger, Stephen Wesselingh, who spent $5991.74
This year, when he secured his third term as mayor, he spent $3069.35, facing "two capable opponents".
"You see it at central government level all the time— parties worrying about how much money they’ve got or their opponents have — and definitely dollars do not convert to votes, but it does give you more opportunity to tell your story," he said. "For
"I was all too aware that last election I didn’t really have the opportunity to get out there and talk about what we’ve done and what I wanted the council to be doing for the next three years. This was an opportunity to do just that. And to make sure that if I was re-elected I had a mandate because I had campaigned on a particular position and talking about particular projects."
He said with one challenger, Paul Mutch, yet to declare his expenses, he was not convinced he had spent the most.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan, and his challenger, Victoria Bonham, had not declared expenses by yesterday afternoon.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan was unopposed and spent nothing.
Of the two new faces at the council table this triennium, Cr Hana Halalele spent the most, $1691.10, while realtor Kelli Milmine spent $201.25.
The highest vote-getter among those who missed out, Devin Familton, spent nothing.
At a glance
Waitaki District Council
MAYORALTY
Katrina Hazelhurst $1021.03
Gary Kircher $3069.35
AHURIRI WARD
Ross McRobie $79
CORRIEDALE WARD
Eugen Dupu $47
Bill Kingan $195
Guy Percival $463.70
OAMARU WARD
Eden Bradfield $183.01
Liz Cadogan $455.57*
Iain Clark $400.36
Devin Familton $0
Derek Golding $421.55
Hana Halalele $1691.10
Jeremy Holding $0
Jim Hopkins $882.15
Wee Jock Howie $200.60
Peter McLellan $30
Kelli Milmine $201.25
John Shaw $1137.90
Melanie Tavendale $281.25
Colin Wollstein $314.30
WAIHEMO WARD
Peter Newton $1356.84
Jan Wheeler $878.25
Clutha District Council
MAYORALTY
Bryan Cadogan $0
BALCLUTHA WARD
Wayne Felts $0
Alison Ludemann $0
Ken Payne $0
Carol Sutherland $0
BRUCE WARD
Gaynor Finch $0
Paul Hanlon $290
Bruce Vollweiler $520.25
Selwyn Wilkinson $200*
CATLINS WARD
Dane Catherwood $250.0
Hilary McNab $362.25
CLINTON WARD
Jo-anne Thomson $200*
CLUTHA VALLEY WARD
Stewart Cowie $0
KAITANGATA-MATAU WARD
Bruce Graham $0
LAWRENCE-TUAPEKA WARD
Geoff Blackmore $132.00
Mel Foster $176.00
WEST OTAGO WARD
John Herbert $0
Michele Kennedy $0
Central Otago District Council
MAYORALTY CROMWELL WARD
Neil Gillespie $447.35
Cheryl Laws $3860.95
Nigel McKinlay $1583.02
VINCENT WARD
Tony Hammington $565.14
Tracy Patterson $568.56
Graeme Perkins $0
Bruce Potter $0
Malcolm Topliss $1517.12
MANIOTOTO WARD
Stuart Duncan $0
TEVIOT VALLEY WARD
Sally Feinerman $200*
Stephen Jeffery $0
*Included $200 nomination fee as an expense
+ran for multiple roles