1977 Wellington mayoral election

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1977 Wellington mayoral election
Wellington CoA (shield only).svg
  1974 8 October 1977 1980  
Turnout41,641 (46.88%)
  Michael Fowler, 1965.jpg Frank Kitts, 1954.jpg
Candidate Michael Fowler Sir Frank Kitts
Party Citizens' Labour
Popular vote17,04114,022
Percentage40.9233.67

  No image.png Carmen Rupe.jpg
Candidate Tony Brunt Carmen
Party Values Independent
Popular vote7,9961,686
Percentage19.204.04

Mayor before election

Michael Fowler

Elected mayor

Michael Fowler

The 1977 Wellington mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1977, election were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including eighteen city councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

Contents

Background

The 1977 mayoralty was notable for the highly publicised candidacy of Carmen Rupe, a transgender drag performer and brothel keeper. With the support of local businessman Bob Jones, who organised her campaign and wrote her speeches, Carmen's campaign utilised the slogans Get in Behind and Carmen for Mayor [1] and campaigned on a platform to legalise gay marriage and brothels, despite neither being local-government matters in New Zealand. [2]

Former mayor Sir Frank Kitts attempted a comeback after losing narrowly three years earlier. His candidature took many by surprise with the press expecting Labour to try and rejuvenate. Local businessman Jim Belich was approached, but he declined for personal reasons. [3] Frank O'Flynn also considered standing, but withdrew in favour of Kitts, though O'Flynn stood on the council ticket and was elected. A Dominion editorial said of Kitts' candidature "No one knew what Frank Kitts did during his three years in the political wilderness and no one knew why he wanted to come back". [4] His support in the mayoral race fell further, though he was again elected to the Wellington Harbour Board where his vote increased.

Mayoralty results

1977 Wellington mayoral election [5] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Citizens' Michael Fowler 17,041 40.92 −0.44
Labour Sir Frank Kitts 14,02233.67−6.68
Values Tony Brunt 7,99619.20+3.85
Independent Carmen 1,6864.04
Independent Citizens' Saul Goldsmith 5681.36−0.76
Independent Ivan Solt1670.40
Civic ReformDonald McMillan1610.38
Informal votes2800.67
Majority 3,0197.25+6.24
Turnout 41,64146.88+3.76

Councillor results

1977 Wellington City Council election [5] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Values Tony Brunt 20,664 49.62 +9.17
Citizens' Ian Lawrence 20,617 49.51 +6.26
Labour Bill Jeffries 20,415 49.02 +6.76
Citizens' Stewart Duff 20,141 48.36 +1.36
Labour Keith Spry 20,133 48.34 +9.65
Citizens' Betty Campbell 20,122 48.32 +3.89
Citizens' Rosemary Young 20,069 48.19 +10.35
Citizens' Audrey Fitzgerald 19,609 47.09 +6.93
Labour Brian O'Brien 18,829 45.21 −9.06
Labour Frank O'Flynn 18,510 44.45
Citizens' Irvine Yardley 18,035 43.31 +6.97
Citizens' John Wootton 17,709 42.52 +9.58
Citizens' Jim McMillan 17,600 42.26 +7.89
Labour Joe Aspell 17,475 41.96 +4.69
Labour Jenny Brough 16,019 38.46
Labour Helene Ritchie 15,871 38.11
Citizens' Bruce Harris 15,529 37.29 +2.52
Citizens' Gavin Wilson 15,353 36.86
Labour Marijke Robinson15,29136.72
Citizens' David Bull14,91735.82
Labour Tala Cleverley [nb 1] 15,05636.15
Citizens' Alan Revell14,86035.68
Labour Jim Edwards 14,71635.34
Citizens' Les Chapman14,66735.22−3.98
Labour Fanaura Kingstone 14,37734.53
Citizens' Des Hoskins14,37634.52−1.56
Labour Jim Kebbell14,27034.26
Labour Tilly Hunter14,23534.18
Citizens' Les Paske14,16634.01
Labour John Ulrich13,97233.55+5.34
Citizens' Ernie Gartrell13,70932.92
Citizens' Seton Nossiter13,70332.90
Citizens' George Nicholls13,42332.23−0.72
Labour Joe McTaggart13,02231.27
Labour Ross Simpson12,56130.16
Labour Mark Peck 11,88128.53
Values Judith Reinken8,74521.00
Independent Citizens' Saul Goldsmith 7,63618.33−6.49
Values Chris Wheeler7,26917.45
Independent Carmen 6,81716.37
Values Brian Dreadon6,76616.24
Civic ReformDonald McMillan4,76111.43
Independent David Mitchell2,9637.11
Independent Ron England2,8606.86−12.00
Independent Ivan Solt2,7316.55
Civic ReformAmatanga Sooialo2,5476.11
Independent Frank Moncur2,2185.32−10.13
Civic ReformJames Quinn2,1005.04
Civic ReformJames Billings1,8524.44

Table footnotes:

  1. Cleverley was appointed to fill the vacancy on the council in 1979 caused by Irvine Yardley's resignation

References

  1. Trust: A true story of Women and Gangs. Pip Desmond. 2009. Page 158
  2. "Carmen Rupe, legend, dies in Sydney". gaynz.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2011. Transgender goddess and glbt community icon Carmen Rupe has died in Sydney, aged 75, from kidney failure following months of poor health.
  3. Hogan, Anne (11 February 1986). "Jim Belich tipped for Labour's mayoral bid". The Evening Post .
  4. "The Last Hurrah". The Dominion . 28 December 1977.
  5. 1 2 Smyth, Alan J. (25 October 1977). Declaration of Election Results (Report). Wellington City Council.
  6. 1 2 "Wellington". The Evening Post . 10 October 1977.