Wanaka business owner Quentin Smith leads the preliminary results in the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s’s Wanaka ward by-election by more than 400 votes.
Results yesterday had Mr Smith with 1371 votes, 403 ahead of second place-getter Jude Battson with 968. The two other candidates, Wayne Hudson and Eddie Spearing, attracted 577 and 446 votes respectively.
Special votes were still to be tallied and an official result was expected to be announced next week. Mr Smith said he was particularly pleased with the preliminary margin after expecting a tight race.
"Particularly the funding heading into the long-term plan is a big issue for Wanaka and looking to the future with strategic planning is something I’m looking forward to working on with fellow councillors," Mr Smith said.
As Mr Smith is the deputy chairman of the Wanaka Community Board another by-election will now be called, as Wanaka ward councillors take up three of the seven seats on the board.
A decision would be made with his fellow board members whether he would stay on as deputy chairman, Mr Smith said.
Electoral officer Jane Robertson said work would start immediately on the community board by-election which was expected to cost about $30,000, the same as the Wanaka ward by-election.
Runner-up Jude Battson said she was disappointed with the result and would now sit back to mull over her options about running in any more local body elections.
"After spending quite a bit of my own money it’s a bit disappointing to see about 60% people not voting, but I’ll sit back and take everything in before I make any decisions."
Wayne Hudson said he would also not be making any decisions on standing in the upcoming community board by-election, until he had time to reflect on this campaign.
"I wouldn’t say I really enjoyed the process at times but I have learnt a lot from it and I think voters want to see you in a lesser role before they elect you to council, so I’ll just wait and see what happens."
Eddie Spearing said he was disappointed with the results and he would not be standing in the community board by-election.
The by-election was held after the Wanaka ward seat was vacated by Ella Lawton so she could stand in the Otago Regional Council’s Dunstan ward by-election last month, which she won. It was called after her mother, Maggie Lawton, died in March.
