Election for Raetihi

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 31, 22 January 1985, Page 1

Election for Raetihi

There will have to be a by-election for two seats on the Raetihi Borough* Council, after Deputy Mayor, Mr John Compton, stated this week that he will be resigning his seat.

There is already one vacancy on the council following the resignation of Councillor Terry Tapp in September of last year. However, Mr Compton, who is leaving Raetihi after

nine years in the town, to work in Wanganui, will not submit his resignation to the council until after the end of the current financial year next month, as a by-election had not been budgeted for this year. Following the resignation of Councillor Tapp last year, Town Clerk Mrs Hope Vaughan contacted the Audit Department in Wellington to ascertain what steps the council could take to replace him without the expense of a by-election. The problem arose as there were no loosing candidates in the local body election held in Raetihi in 1983 — all were unopposed. Normally the next best polling candidate would step in as a replacement for an out-going councillor. However, Mrs Vaughan said yesterday that the council could operate with one vacant seat, but when Mr Compton's resignation is received a by-election would be necessary. A by-election will cost somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000, but by delaying his resignation until after next month's end of the financial year, Mr Compton will avoid the council being presented with a bill they hadnt budgeted for. The council will now be able to allow for the election's cost in next year's estimates. The election is likely to take place in April. However, it could still be" avoided if only two candidates put themselves forward for the two vacancies. One seat on the council which has been vacant on a temporary basis only, that of Councillor Bill Pehi, will be occupied again at this month's meetings. Mr Pehi who has been absent from council meetings for three and a half months for personal reasons, said this week that he had informed the Mayor, Mr Garrick Workman, that he would be attending council meetings again from this month.