2013 Rangitikei mayoral election
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2013 Rangitikei mayoral election
| country = New Zealand
| flag_image =
| type = Presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2010 Rangitikei mayoral election
| previous_year = 2010
| next_election = 2016 Rangitikei mayoral election
| next_year = 2016
| election_date = 12 October 2013
| image1 =
| candidate1 = Andy Watson
| party1 = Independent politician
| popular_vote1 = 1,983
| percentage1 = 41.47
| swing1 =
| image2 =
| candidate2 = Chalky Leary
| party2 = Independent politician
| popular_vote2 = 1,497
| percentage2 = 31.30
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = Mayor
| before_election = Chalky Leary
| before_party =
| after_election = Andy Watson
| after_party =
}}
The 2013 Rangitikei mayoral election was part of the Rangitikei and wider New Zealand local elections. On 12 October 2013, elections were held for the Mayor of Rangitikei and other local government roles. The incumbent, Robert "Chalky" Leary, ran against three other candidates and lost re-election to Andy Watson who was elected with 41.5% of the vote, a 486-vote majority over Leary whose vote share succumbed to 31.3%.{{cite web|url=http://acs-ltd.co.nz/elections/LGEResults/ELT38RA13_results.pdf|title=Rangitikei District Council – 2013 Triennial Elections|accessdate=19 May 2016|publisher=Electionz.com}}{{cite web|author=Zaryd Wilson |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/9276853/Former-Rangitikei-mayor-riding-into-sunset |title=Former Rangitikei mayor 'riding into sunset' |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=12 October 2013 |accessdate=10 June 2016}}{{cite web|title=Watson wins Rangitikei chain|URL=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11139836 |publisher=Wanganui Chronicle – nzherald.co.nz.|date=14 October 2013|accessdate=10 June 2016|author=Wallis, Anna}}
Candidates
Four candidates stood for election:{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11115322|title=Four to contest race|publisher=Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald|date=28 August 2013|accessdate=10 June 2016}}
- Richard Aslett
- Maree Brannigan (Fresh Future Focus)
- Chalky Leary
- Andy Watson
Campaign
For the first time since 2007 there was a contested election for the Rangitikei mayoralty, as in 2010 incumbent mayor Chalky Leary was elected unopposed.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11005266|title=Mayor unchallenged, little impetus for change|author=Rowatt, Colin|publisher=Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald|date=6 October 2010|accessdate=19 May 2016}} On 26 June former deputy mayor Andy Watson announced his intention to run for mayor, campaigning on a more transparent council and an establishment of a finance committee. Incumbent Chalky Leary was standing for a third term in office and campaigned on a no excess and no frills council whose significant work included the Hunterville and Taihape sewerage schemes.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11103067|title=Deputy throws hat in the ring|author=Ferguson, Lin|publisher=Wanganui Chronicle – The New Zealand Herald|date=26 June 2013|accessdate=10 June 2016}}
Mangaweka-based councillor Richard Aslett and executive officer of Rural Education Activities Programme Maree Brannigan announced their candidacies in August. Aslett's campaign was based on improving population and visitor growth principally, as well as saving services, scrapping a possible amalgamation and lowering rates. Brannigan, running on a Fresh Future Focus platform, campaigned on achieving a stable rural economy to ensure the continued thriving of business, environment and families in the Rangitikei District.
Results
{{Election box begin |title=Rangitikei mayoral election, 2013{{cite web|url=http://www.localcouncils.govt.nz/lgip.nsf/wpg_url/Profiles-Councils-Rangitikei-District-Council-E1|title=Rangitikei District Council – Election Statistics|publisher=Department of Internal Affairs|accessdate=10 June 2016}}}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Andy Watson
|votes = 1,983
|percentage = 41.47
|change = —
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Chalky Leary
|votes = 1,497
|percentage = 31.30
|change = −68.70{{efn|Leary was elected unopposed in the 2010 election.}}
}}
{{Election box candidate minor party
|color = #284473
|party = Fresh Future Focus
|candidate = Maree Brannigan
|votes = 687
|percentage = 14.37
|change = —
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Richard Aslett
|votes = 615
|percentage = 12.86
|change = —
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 486
|percentage = 10.16
|change =
}}
{{Election box total valid
|votes = 4,782
|percentage = 99.63
|change =
}}
{{Election box informal
|votes = 18
|percentage = 0.38
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 4,856
|percentage = 49.22
|change =
}}
{{Election box Registered electors
|reg. electors = 9,866
}}
{{Election box end}}
Note that blank votes are not included.
See also
Table footnotes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Rangitikei District Council local elections}}