Dunedin Council Elections: Calvert and Laws Secure Re-Election

In the recent council elections in Dunedin, strong candidates emerged as incumbents and newcomers vied for positions. With approximately 85% of votes counted, Hilary Calvert appears set to return to the council alongside fellow incumbents Andrew Noone and chairwoman Gretchen Robertson. The progress results indicate a competitive landscape, with newcomer Chanel Gardner and Alan Somerville of the Green Party also making the elected list. However, incumbents Elliot Weir and Tim Mepham are likely to miss out, with a particularly tight race between Cr Somerville and Cr Weir.

In the Dunstan constituency, Michael Laws was comfortably re-elected, joined by incumbent Gary Kelliher and new representative Matt Hollyer. Former Central Otago district deputy mayor Neil Gillespie also secured a seat. Notably, Ms Calvert, Cr Laws, and Cr Kelliher are part of the fiscally conservative Vision Otago team, which focused on economic stability and growth during their campaigns.

Despite the election results indicating a strong showing for Vision Otago, Carmen Hope, also part of this ticket, did not succeed in securing a position in the Molyneux ward. In that area, Act candidate Robbie Byars was leading, while incumbent Kate Wilson is set for re-election. Unfortunately for Cr Lloyd McCall, the results are not in his favor, and he will not retain his seat. Additionally, Kevin Malcolm has been retained in the Moeraki ward, contributing to the overall composition of the council.

The council clarified that the progress results do not encompass some special votes and those counted on the day of the election, indicating a possibility for change in the final outcomes. “The outcome of these elections may change once all voting papers have been counted,” a council spokesperson stated, underscoring the importance of every vote in determining the final composition of the council.

As the counting continues, the community remains engaged in the election process, with a keen interest in how these results will shape the future of governance in Dunedin.