2004 Porirua mayoral election

2004 Porirua mayoral election

←  2001 9 October 2004 2007 →
Turnout	17,632 (42.70%)
Candidate Jenny Brash Gregory Fortuin Kevin Watson Party Independent Independent Labour Popular vote 7,156 4,442 2,561 Percentage 40.58 25.19 14.52
Mayor before election Jenny Brash Elected mayor Jenny Brash

The 2004 Porirua mayoral election was part of the 2004 New Zealand local elections. The elections were held for the role of Mayor of Porirua plus other local government positions including thirteen city councillors, also elected triennially. This was the first Porirua mayoral election to be held under the Single transferable vote voting system.

Background

The incumbent Mayor, Jenny Brash, sought re-election for a third term. After winning a second term uncontested, she was opposed deputy mayor Kevin Watson, councillor Robert Shaw, former Race Relations Conciliator Gregory Fortuin, real estate manager Euon Murrell and teacher Paul Hopkinson, who had came to national attention in 2003 after burning a New Zealand flag during a protest against the Iraq war. ^[1] Councillor John Green contemplated running while councillor Ken Douglas ruled it out, but ran for re-election to the council having changed his allegiance from independent to the Labour Party. Porirua business leaders attempted to convince Mark Blumsky, the former Mayor of Wellington to stand, but he could not be persuaded. ^[2]

Watson only finished third and lost his council seat in a shock result. The final election result declaration was delayed by 17 days after a computer glitch left 10 percent of all votes cast uncounted. ^[3]

Mayoral results

The following table gives the final iteration (fifth) of the election results:

2004 Porirua mayoral election ^{[4] [5]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Jenny Brash	7,156	40.58
	Independent	Gregory Fortuin	4,442	25.19
	Labour	Kevin Watson	2,561	14.52
	Independent	Euon Murrell	1,726	9.78
	Independent	Robert Shaw	1,295	7.34
	Anti-Capitalist Alliance	Paul Hopkinson	126	0.71
Informal votes			326	1.84
Majority			2,714	15.39
Turnout			17,632	42.70	−0.10

Ward results

See also: 2001 Porirua local elections

Candidates were also elected from wards to the Porirua City Council.

	Party/ticket	Councillors
	Independent	8
	Labour	5

References

1. "Who would be mayor?". The Dominion Post . 6 September 2004. p. A1.
2. O'Sullivan, Matt (11 March 2004). "Two to seek mayoralty". The Dominion Post . p. A6.
3. Mulrooney, Paul (27 October 2004). "After 17 days, Porirua completes its election". The Dominion Post . p. A5.
4. "Porirua City Council and Porirua Licensing Trust - Elections 2004". The Dominion Post . 28 October 2004. p. C10.
5. Mulrooney, Paul (28 October 2004). "Councillors line up in race for deputy mayor". The Dominion Post . p. A7.