Denise Krum

Simon O’Connor has won the nomination for one of National’s safest seats – congratulations to Simon who won on the final ballot in the rushed contest to replace Allan Peachey after he resigned for ill health. This selection process has been exceptionally well run by the electorate chair and there has not been even a hint of skullduggery except by the President making his usual hamfisted interventions but no one in National thinks this is malicious, it is just the president has tits for hands.

The rushed selection has arguably not allowed delegates a proper chance to get to know the candidates, but the result accurately reflects the Tamaki constituency preference for a conservative male candidate who is well networked into the party, who presented fairly well and was good off-the-cuff. It also represents their desire to play it safe, by not selecting a candidate who would have represented unacceptable public relations risks for the party. There is also a suggestion that the aged males of Tamaki did not want a woman, which excluded three of the unsuccessful candidates (two of whom were female).

Commiserations to Denise Krum, who gave a great speech on the night and who presented well. It is unfortunate that she is still being tagged with the description of “former United Future president” in the Herald – she has earned the right to be described as National through and through.

Mark Thomas probably hung up his political boots last night after coming third (insiders suggested he was likely to win, and he had the support of some prominent Auckland Nats). His Party involvement has been defined by rejection at important moments –  knifed by Bolger and humiliated at the hands of the famously narrow-minded Tamaki electorate.

It looks like once again Tamaki will have to be satisfied with a less than average MP.

The race for the National aprty nomination for Tamaki is between these five:

I have been forwarded a summary of candidate biographies by the electorate chair, Andrew Hunt, who is making a good fist of the selection. HE is approachable and seems to be be running everything precisely by the rules. He has sent me the summary because candidates aren;t allowed to talk to media.

Candidate Bios

My summary will follow the same format as previous selections. Links on their names are to their iPredict stock.

Denise Krum:

Selection Record: Maungakiekie 2008 (Successfully won selection for United Future), Botany 2011 (Did not make it through Preselection),  Epsom 2011 (Dropped at 2nd ballot)

Denise is a pleasant journey woman who is unlikely to make mistakes as an MP, but also unlikely to make an impact. Her solid and stable family background and Christian values platform may endear her to some locals. A female MP for Tamaki would be a first, and probably not a bad thing either. If Krum can present more like a corporate and less like a suburban housewife, she would have the potential to win the selection.

Advantages:

• strong track record of community involvement including getting seriously off side with Greenpeace after cleaning up the Ellerslie town centre and having them poster it with anti corporate messages.
• Political background including father Graeme Lee being a former National MP.
• Would help the gender balance in the National caucus

Disadvantages:

• Political background including father Graeme Lee being a former National MP.
• Ran for United Future in 2008
• Was United Future Party President
• A very attractive woman who’s causal dress sense and hippy style hair does not do her justice
• Needs serious speech training to stop her coming across as a stoner.
• No proven track record as a vote winner
• Has not won a selection so far and Tamaki may not want a woman who is a repeat loser

Toni Millar:

Selection Record: To this blogs knowledge has not stood for National Selection previously

A former local councillor with a reputation for abrasiveness and bossiness. Her strong local connections 9she has lived in the electorate for decades) would make her an excellent candidate for right now, but her “spoilt child” reputation proceeds her, and will turn off some delegates. Local community groups would adore Millar as the local candidate, as she is a very social person. Not one to make a contribution to policy – think of her as a Sandra Goudie without gumboots. No longer married, but also no children, which means she would have the time to apply to the role of ribbon cutter. Would be an effective local MP and loyal to the party. Her weight might be held against her by some delegates.

Advantages

• Proven electability as a C&R councilor on the old Auckland City Council
• Experienced political operator who would have a head start on newbies in parliament
• Great links into a wide range of community groups
• Very good with voter contact and very good manner with voters
• Known to enjoy doing the hard yards in her electorate, and enjoy the contact with constituents
• Would help the gender balance in caucus
• Would not mind taking on hostile audiences of morons like teachers unions as she is known to have a hide like a rhinoceros

Disadvantages

• An assertive woman in a world where assertiveness in women can unfairly be used to call a woman a “school marm”, “bossy” or “a bitch”
• Former Teacher
• Would not add to the intellectual and policy heft of the party
• Perhaps not the best long term prospect

Simon O’Connor:

Selection Record: Stood unsuccessfully for selection in Maungakiekie in 2008.

Seen as a nice fellow, a hard working volunteer for the party over the years, but not considered a rising star. O’Connor used to be a priest in training, but mysteriously left the seminary with his studies uncompleted. However, his Catholic connections will probably be popular in Tamaki. He is unmarried, so may be seen as less than settled as a choice for a conservative seat like that. Has not been a seat candidate for National before, was unsuccessful as a local board candidate for the Waitemata ward in 2010. He is a Contracts Manager for Southern Cross Health Society

The selection in Maungakiekie in 2008 was marked by extreme unethical behaviour, with O’Connor and the electorate chair trying to stack selection in O’Connor’s favour against Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga. O’Connor then went on the offensive to attack Sam on the grounds he was a councillor and could not campaign properly due to his council responsibilities. Like Brent Robinson in Rodney, O’Connor lost.

What is it with fundies and unethical selection campaigns? Maybe we need to get candidates to swear on the bible they will not be unethical during selection.

Advantages

• None

Disadvantages

• Unethical selection campaign in 2008 means he will never receive a positive comments from this blog.

Seby Reeves:

Selection Record: None

I have never heard of him, but who is reputedly an early 30-something lawyer, is unlikely to have upset anyone, and so could become everyone’s second choice because he hasn’t done enough to cause people to vote against him. It is unconfirmed if he has a strong party connection. He is the son of Graeme Reeves.

Advantages

• No previous negative form in National, meaning if he presents well, works the delegate list hard and delivers the best speech on the night he has a chance.
• People will not have formed an opinion of him, so he has a chance to convince them to vote for him in a weak field.

Disadvantages

• Unknown in National
• Looks like an opportunist.

Mark Thomas:

Selection Record: Successful Wellington Central 1996. (Bolger shafted him so Prebble could win the seat).

Current Orakei Board member, with a reputation for talking but not walking. Thomas has a number of negatives causing political risk to National. His work as PR stooge for Mark Hotchin would be poison to locals and a bright shiny bullseye for Labour. Thomas is unmarried with children, which won’t be popular with locals either. His becoming an MP would also trigger an expensive by-election for Auckland ratepayers, or potentially cause another round of double-dipping accusations like Sam Lotu-iiga went through. Famously knifed by Bolger in Wellington Central in 1996. Comes across as a bit effeminate.

Advantages

• Of the known candidates Mark is the most talented and has done more good for the National Party
• Sound strategic and political mind, and a good backroom operator
• Will present well and speak well, with a very clear, logical message

Disadvantages

• Too close to party president Peter Goodfellow, who has no support in Tamaki
• Good talker, not such a good walker
• PR man for Mark Hotchin, which will be used against him
• To intellectual to be really liked by middle New Zealand and not great at pressing the flesh
• Not a retail politician
• Unfairly blamed for Melissa Lees campaign debacle, rather than being credited for the highly successful campaign for Sam Lotu-Iiga in Maungakiekie in 2008

A note for readers: The tip line has been running hot with all sorts of stories about marriage, sexuality and other personal details. I do not believe these points deserve public airing, and I also do not believe they will be factors in selection. In 1976 Marilyn Waring was outed by the Truth, but remained in parliament until 1984, with the provincial New Zealand seats of Raglan and Waipa accepting her for who she was rather than being all preachy and judgmental.

from National party press release:

The National Party has announced a shortlist of five top nominees who have put their names forward for selection as National’s Tamaki candidate in the November 26 election.

A shortened candidate selection process is taking place after the decision by Tamaki MP Allan Peachey to step down at the election.  Tamaki’s pre-selection committee met last night, while a final selection will take place on October 26.

Tamaki Electorate chair Andrew Hunt says the candidates are:

• Denise Krum
• Toni Millar
• Simon O’Connor
• Seby Reeves
• Mark Thomas

As with all selections this blog does not take a position on who should win the selection, as delegates are smart enough to choose the best candidate most of the time.  A full profile of all candidates will be posted tomorrow.

This selection is being run very fairly, unlike others this cycle. Board members and regional chairs are not involved promoting candidates, in total breach of the ethics of their position, a position that requires complete neutrality.

Names are now starting to pop up for the rushed Tamaki selection. Names mentioned to the Whale, or mentioned in the media include:

Denise Krum – A more recently established National Party identity, Krum is struggling to make headway with some delegates, who see her as “nice, but not up to it”. Krum is 69 on National’s list, and on current polling stands a good chance of becoming a list Member of Parliament, certainly if there are some mid-term retirements anyway.

Karen Rolleston – An established National party identity, though not a resident of Tamaki, or anywhere near it, Rolleston has some X-Factor that makes her a worthy consideration for delegates. She presents well in person, though narrowly lost in Palmerston North which was not bad for a Jafa.

Alfred Ngaro – Ngaro was catapulted into the National list as one of the fresh new “diversity” faces, and will certainly be in Parliament. He was a good (but not great) candidate in the 2010 council elections, standing as a C&R candidate but losing the winnable Maungakiekie ward contest to Richard Northey. A Cook Islands Maori, Ngaro is educated, affable and presents well. Big things are expected of Ngaro, more than just a token cabinet ministry role.

Suzy Clarkson – ex Prime TV news presenter, and star of fitness videos back in the 1990s. Now reportedly working for Coca Cola as their public affairs director. Her National Party background is unknown. In this morning’s Herald, Cabinet Minister Paula Bennett is reportedly backing her, though this is not necessarily a useful thing.

D. Mark Harrison – A social media entrepeneur and Hobbit helper (he organised the marches for the Hobbit movie last year), Harrison is regularly found in the company of lingerie models and bikini pageant contestants. Fancies himself as a bit of a playboy. He would make Alasdair Thompson seem like a reasonable progressive if chosen. However, he presents well and his Kings College persona can be turned on at whim, making him a possible outside runner. His National Party background is unknown.

Aaron Bhatnagar – a friend of the Whale and established National Party identity. Missed out in Botany and Epsom. Needs more polish and some weight loss if he is to stand in another selection, but capable of being a strong MP if selected. Has been quoted as saying he is undecided about standing, and has already been the victim of an smear by the usual dark forces that congregate around Auckland National Party selections.

UPDATE: Aaron has confirmed with me today that he will NOT be seeking selection in Tamaki.

Mark Thomas – An established National Party identity and former candidate. Has a number of weaknesses that would cause National risk, including the fact he would cause a by-election if selected (he’s currently the spokesman for invisibility on the Orakei local board), comes across as effeminate, and is in a de facto relationship with his partner (Tamaki would be hostile to anything other than married). A public relations practitioner, famously once the paid PR stooge of Mark Hotchin, New Zealand’s second most hated man after Clayton Weatherston. He can’t have been that good allowing his client to be so branded. This also makes him a prime target for Labour, and would be viewed suspiciously by the St Heliers villagers who lost money in Hanover. His missus is said to be far more capable as a potential candidate.

Cameron Brewer – the rock star in the room. Is playing a media tease at the moment about his interest in Tamaki, but is the best known of the likely nominees, has a good National Party pedigree and is a monstrously effective media talent. Brewer would also cause a by-election if selected, which would no doubt have the blessing of Len Brown. Brewer is well advised by his old teammates in the National Party research unit in the Shipley years. May be seen as weak on policy by some delegates, but would probably be forgiven this as he would be incredibly effective in opposition when the Key government eventually does go out. Conceivably the only person in this lineup who could make cabinet prior to the 2014 elections, and if the whispers are correct, would.

David Williams – the ex headmaster of Saint Kentigern College around ten years ago has recently moved back to New Zealand after leading a school in Australia. His National Party background is unknown, though is well connected into the church community. Would probably have the support of the Peachey faction, who would like his strong education credentials and his socially conservative views (he is also a Presbyterian Minister). He would be expected to present very well.

The tipline has been running exceptionally hot over the last week, firstly with vested interest trying to get this blog to stick the knife into Allan Peachey. Now it is the same vested interests wanting to get their candidates promoted.

As with all selections I will take a neutral stance and not endorse any candidate. I did however recommend voting against Brent Robinson in Rodney but that was because of his skullduggery.

Cameron Brewer: The Mayor of Newmarket. Long time Whaleoil friend and effective campaigner who won a seat on the Supercity council. A good prospect and a man who is well suited to retail politics. May not be able to justify leaving council but is probably more likely to succeed in central government than local government.

Denise Krum: Former United Future chairmwoman and daughter of former National MP Graeme Lee. Did not make it through the preselection for Botany and was unsuccessful in Epsom. Probably does not present well enough to win a hotly contested selection in one of the bluest seats in the country

Aaron Bhatnagar:  Another long time Whaleoil friend and former Auckland City Councillor. Unfortunately for Aaron he has lost selections in Botany where he was an outsider and Epsom where he was favourite, and despite years of loyal service to National and C&R he may not make it in Tamaki. Already the victim of a nasty smear that Scoop has thoughtfully corrected.

Mark Thomas:  The man shafted by Jim Bolger in 1996 when he was National’s candidate in Wellington Central. Currently on the Orakei Local Board where the chair is the current paramour of Party President Peter Goodfellow. A man who has done a fantastic job running Sam Lotu-Iiga’s campaigns in Maungakiekie and has a reputation as a loyal party servant.

Karen Rolleston:  Highly regarded woman from Helensville who was narrowly unsuccessful in Palmerston North and beaten by the skullduggery in Rodney before the second selection process had began. In a party lacking women MPs of merit Karen is a strong possibility although will struggle with the parochial nature of Tamaki electorate.

The only candidate that has already declared is Denise Krum. The others may or may not run. Good luck to all who are brave enough to run for public office, and hopefully this will be a fair contest.

Finally, all National Party members should remember Allan Peachey has been forced out by ill health and he deserves our sympathy, as well as our thanks as well as our attention. Too often the National Party thinks “The King is Dead, Long Live the King” and deserts those who have served when they need compassion.

Pre-Selection was held today and there are 5 names through.

Aaron Bhatnagar, Richard Simpson, Ewen MacQueen, Denise Krum and Paul Goldsmith.National still has antiquated rules regarding campaigning online and so personal websites are offline. They really need to get with the real word.

Richard Simpson must have got board approval since he has only been a member for a few short weeks. Could be interesting watching to see if he manages to distract Aaron Bhatnagar. His opposition to C&R in his past and his short time as a member will probably count against him. Many of the delegates are current C&R members and well remember his campaigns against them and his support of Dick Hubbard in council.

Paul Goldsmith isn’t doing himself any favours with delegates by running around whining and carping about other candidates cottage meetings, demanding reciprocal meetings and complaining incessantly to the Regional Chair about silly stuff.

Ewan Macqueen will be the first to drop out I’d say, with his Christian Heritage background he is pretty much electoral poison.

I’d say this is a two way race at the moment between Denise and Aaron, with Aaron being the firm favourite.

If Aaron stays focused and doesn’t do anything silly then I’d say he will win this selection. I will maintain a close eye to see that the Bugger’s Muddle doesn’t get involved in any skullduggery like they did in Rodney and in Coromandel.

Regular readers of this blog know that I do not endorse candidates for selection, and encourage the party members to make the selection they think is best for their electorate. The one exception was the Skullduggery in Rodney where this blog opposed the fundy take over of the party in the form of Brent Robinson, and endorsed all four other candidates.

In Epsom National is looking for someone to take one for the team and lose to Banksie so ACT survive. They would be hard pressed to beat Banksie anyway, as Epsom is his home territory, and he has won a lot of votes in the electorate in local body elections.

At this stage there are four known candidates to be sacrificial lamb, Aaron Bhatnagar, Denise Krum, Mike Loftus and Paul Goldsmith.

Aaron Bhatnagar

Aaron is an old mate and been a loyal servant to C&R, ACT and National.

Pros

• Former Councillor
• Former Epsom Electorate Chair
• Generous donor to National Party causes
• Former Young Nat
• Good campaigner who ran a strong direct mail campaign to get three C&R councillors elected in the Hobson Ward in 2007, including Epsom selection opponent Paul Goldsmith
• Staunch right winger who will not be afraid to stand up in caucus and stick it to the wets
• Can self fund his campaign and probably drop a few quid in the distressingly empty tin of the party president

Cons

• Does silly things online under the barzini handle
• Indiscrete after a few drinks
• Ran Banksie’s unsuccessful campaign for Mayor against the very beatable Len Brown
• Former ACT member

Paul Goldsmith

A serious, sober individual who won all manner of awards when he was at Grammar at the same time as this blogger. Failed to translate this wonkishness to mastery of the poker table. Not that electable due to an unfriendly personality, so the ideal candidate for National when all they want is someone to take a dive.

Pros

• Former councillor, elected together with Aaron Bhatnagar in 2007
• Long time party servant, running in Maungakiekie in 2005
• Written lots of books for wealthy people so should be able to touch them up for a campaign donation
• Black belt at some martial art meaning he can carve up annoying constituents whinging about not enough cycleways or wanting money for Gay Pride Marches

Cons

• Extremely limited interpersonal skills making it difficult to convince people to vote for him
• Lost to Cathy Casey in the Eden Albert Roskill ward at the Supercity elections

Denise Krum

Denise is the daughter of former National MP Graeme Lee (who defected to Christian Democrats), and former United Future party president. She did not make the final five in the Botany selection in January.

Pros

• A woman, and word from inside the beehive is that Captain Panic Pants has ordered a big shipment of antacids for when Labour start attacking National for being a cockfest. Only one of the 2011 intake is guaranteed to be a woman, with Maggie Barry in North Shore. The other safe seats have all gone to men.
• Good CV with plenty of community involvement
• Good political background

Cons

• Projects poorly due to amateur speaking style and poor dress sense
• Former United Future Party President
• Graham Lee’s daughter
• Didn’t even make the final five in Botany

Mike Loftus

Mike is an all round good guy who in another era might have been a solid National MP. Probably doesn’t offer a lot to caucus at the moment though, as it is overpopulated with White Middle Class Males and Captain Panic Pants is panicking about this already.

Pros

• Good guy, most likable of all the candidates
• Good team man who wont cause any problems
• Best of all four candidates out on the hustings, someone voters will warm to very quickly

Cons

• WMCM and there are too many of them in National
• Offers National nothing special or different

As always candidates are welcome to send in posts, promotional material or anything they like to this blog which will publish it unedited in the interests of keeping the public informed. Good luck to all, it is just a shame that this seat wasn’t selected last year.

Photo: Stuff.co.nz

At the beginning of this post I want to make one thing absolutely clear. I am not taking sides in this selection process because I believe that the Party members who become delegates can be trusted to make the right decision. For the record I am friends with Jami-Lee Ross and Aaron Bhatnagar, and have only heard positive things about Denise Krum as a person, though not as a party hopper.

To be even handed I am going to continue with my original post on Botany and evaluate Maggie Barry in the same way as I have evaluated the others.

Maggie Barry

Everyone knows Maggie. She is like the friendly grandmother next door who always has some fresh baking to give to the neighbours kids. You can see her track record here. So I wont say much about her background except if a poll was taken she would probably have positive ratings across the country.

http://www.celebspeakers.com/maggie-barry/

Advantages

• High profile. Genuine name recognition.
• Positive public perception. As above. Maggie is a likeable and well liked person, just in the way everyone has a favourite grandmother or great aunt or older neighbour.
• Should be able to fund her own campaign. A big point in her favour in this blogs eyes after the debacle in Mana where some of the highest earning Maoris in the country insisted on taxing the rest of the party rather than funding their own campaign
• Rumours of the Prime Ministers support: The PMs word counts for a lot.

Disadvantages

• Age. To achieve much in parliament means getting in before 45 and having a long tenure. Maggie wont be a twenty year veteran with massive achievements in important portfolios.
• Media Background. No media people have succeeded in Parliament in recent memory. Chris Laidlaw, Dennis Welch, Pam Corkery and Deborah Coddington all had less than stellar careers, perhaps because being on the right end of a microphone means you think people have to listen to you. In parliament no one has to listen to you and you are a backbencher so not much more than a sales person for the party. Even the amazing in his own mind Brian Edwards was less than amazing as a Labour candidate.
• Lack of political experience. It is hard to imagine Maggie having what the Australians call the low bastardary necessary to succeed in politics.
• Lack of National Party contacts. As a talk show host Maggie had to be non aligned, and rightly so. The down side is she doesn’t have the contacts other nominees have.
• Need for Board Approval. The board does not have to approve her nomination, rule 94 I think, as she hasn’t been a member for a year.
• No campaign experience: Maggie will be knocking on the door of the electorate chair asking for volunteers and campaign advice if selected.<
• Not Local: Delegates will know Maggie, but will be more interested in if she knows the electorate and the issues that face the electorate. They will need convincing she is not just off to wellington on a power trip and will not forget the people of Botany.
• Rumours of Prime Ministers Support. If it is not true then Maggie will have to do a lot of explaining like Wira Gardiner did when his candidacy for the National board backed up by media that he was the PMs prefered choice for President. She could be in a very difficult position if someone in the media asks the PM point blank are you supporting Maggies candidacy? Or if someone in the media asks her “is the PM supporting your candidacy over all the other candidates?”
• Rumours of wide-spread caucus support. In her press release she says as much. Unfortunately, because of her lack of experience as a member of the National Party she mistakenly assumes that cucus and the leader select candidates. They don’t, the members do and it is utterly impossible to rig a selection.
• The Tamaki Precedent doesn’t come through again. When Rob Muldoon retired Clem Simich was selected over David Kirk. The local party didn’t want a world cup winning All Black captain and Rhodes scholar with no connection to the electorate. And Maggie sure isn’t a David Kirk.

National’s selection process is robust and fair. There will be sixty delegates making the choice, and the best person almost certainly wins. It won’t be on celebrity, it won’t be on anything else other than core National party ethos and values and candidates that make the mistake of thinking that it is all about them seldom collect enough delegates to win through.

I hope I have not appeared to negative towards Maggie because like most New Zealanders I believe she is a good person and has made a big contribution to our country over many decades. I just wonder if she wouldn’t be better to look for a list only place, or talk to JK about being Governor General. Someone of the gravitas that Maggie has does not need to be bruised like Wira Gardiner was, and the party hierarchy need to be aware of this.

Further to my post on Botany last night, as expected Jami-Lee Ross has announced his intention to seek selection in botany for National.

Auckland Councillor Jami-Lee Ross has announced he will be seeking selection for the National Party candidacy for the Botany by election.

Mr Ross says he is saddened that his local MP Pansy Wong has decided to resign from Parliament. “Pansy was a good electorate MP who cared deeply about her community and it was a pleasure working with her in my capacity as a city councillor. I respect her decision to retire, but I never expected to be seeking selection under these circumstances.”

First elected to the Manukau City Council in 2004, Mr Ross was returned to the Council in 2007 with an increased vote. He was successful in gaining election to the Auckland Council in last year’s local government elections and serves as Co-Leader of the Citizens & Ratepayers Team. Mr Ross currently represents the Howick ward which encompasses Botany, Howick and Pakuranga.

Mr Ross says he has strong links to the Botany electorate. “My wife, Lucy, and I have called this community our home for the past four years. I live in Botany, I work in Botany, and I represent Botany.

“As a local representative I have fought for funding for local sports clubs, developed and purchased land for new parks, and seen this growing community expand. Botany people know me as someone that asks the tough questions and speaks his mind on important local issues. Botany will be well served by my leadership.”

If successful in winning the National Party selection and the Botany by-election, Mr Ross will step down as a member of the Auckland Council. “It would not be possible to do justice to both jobs, especially with the expanded role for new Auckland councillors.

“The public expect politicians to do one job, and do that job properly. I will not try to juggle two full time positions. If I had have known my local electorate was going to need a new candidate so soon after the council elections I would not have stood for council.”

Good to hear he won’t be a double dipper. Jami-Lee would definitely be the front-runner and so far is the only local.

Also as predicted by this blog, Denise Krum has put her hame forward. She is an outsider, living in Ellerslie and also has the stigma of once being the president of United Future.

Within an hour of Ross announcing, Denise Krum, a former president of United Future also announced she is seeking the National Party nomination in Botany.

Krum stood for United Future in 2008 but switched to National after the election 2008 and is now the deputy electorate chair for National MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga and Deputy Regional Chair for the Northern (Auckland) region of the National Party.

Krum, 40, is the daughter of former National MP Graeme Lee and is co-founder and director of the Tableside Charitable Trust, which works with charities in Auckland communities.

Krum lives in central Auckland with her husband and their three children.

Krum said she is expecting, and welcomes, a vigorous selection process.

She also acknowledged the work Wong carried out in Botany.

Good to see she acknowledged Pansy’s role, like Jami-Lee Ross in her announcement, that is stark contrast to the me, me, me announcement of Aaron Bhatnagar. Unfortunately she has also played the gender card without realising that National doesn’t do quotas and selects the best candidate irrespective of their gender, race or sexual preference. If she wants to play that card she should join the Labour party.

With the membership definitely over the 200 members threshold there will be a contested selection, not a board selection. I look forward to blogging how the selection meetings go.

So far a few names for National’s Botany selection have come to the notice of The Whale. Here is a summary of interesting facts as a handy digest for delegates and members.

So far officially Remuera resident Aaron Bhatnagar is the only candidate for selection, though I expect that to change tomorrow. Jami-Lee Ross is a serious contender, and the names of Denise Krum, Darren Gedge and Cam Calder have come to my notice.

So onto some facts. All potential candidates are welcome to send their profiles for publishing on this web site or provide links to their web sites. It is likely more candidates will come forward, and they will be added in time.

Jami-Lee Ross

Jami-Lee Ross would clearly be the front-runner. He is local, and electable, having won three times already in essentially the same area. He is a hard worker in the party having been electorate secretary in Pakuranga for quite some time.

He has been particularly effective at spiking Len Brown, and Len would probably like to see the back of him from council for that reason. His constant holding of troughing politicians to account is a testament to his tenacity and honesty.

I have known Jami-Lee Ross for quite sometime and consider him to be a friend. That aside he is hard-working and would make an ideal long-term MP.

Advantages

• good contacts in the party
• good campaigner, wears out shoe leather
• good donor base (fully funded council campaign)
• good campaign team
• Maori (Ngati Porou)

Disadvantages:

• Young
• Limited real word experience
• Current Auckland Councillor
• Maori (Ngati Porou)

How Labour will attack him:

• Young and lack of experience in the real world
• Double dipping accusation if he wins (easily fended off by resigning from council)
• Causes a by-election in Howick (blame Pansy for this not Jami-Lee)

Aaron Bhatnagar

Aaron Bhatnagar announced his candidacy today, just two hours after the political death of Pansy Wong was announced. He was busy ringing around people long before the 10:30 announcement of Pansy Wong leading to charges of “grave-dancing”. Aaron would be better suited to Epsom, though that is problematic, or perhaps taking over from Allan Peachey in Tamaki. Peachey has never delivered and ill health dogs him.

Aaron is a friend also, but I think he just isn’t suited to Botany.

Advantages

• Dad’s deep pockets
• service to the party
• generous donor
• Indian

Disadvantages:

• Indian
• Perceived as arrogant and aloof
• Ex-Act member (turncoat accusations)
• Lives in Remuera
• Prone to inept silly pranks
• Campaign strategist for losing campaign of John Banks
• No real links to Botany

How Labour will attack him:

• Born to rule, tory, private school, to the manor born attitude
• Bring up his key involvement in the failed Banks campaign
• Keep talking about his close friendship with John Banks

Cam Calder

Cam Calder is a sitting scum list MP – that means should he be successful it would kick in National’s version of the Tizard Effect, bringing  in Dr Conway Powell, a decidedly average list candidate who isn’t even putting his name forward for any selections that I know of.

Cam is a very modest man with a lot to be modest about. He is dull, in a nice sense, but dull nonetheless and talks with his eyes closed…a pet hate of mine. Since he is from the North Shore he would be better suited to wait until Friday when a more suitable seat will become vacant.

Denise Krum

Denise Krum is the ex-president of United Future and as such has been in too close a proximity to Peter Dunne for my liking.  Again she isn’t from the electorate and charges of carpet-bagging could be laid (another of my pet hates).

Being an ex-United Future person makes her a party-hopper.

Darren Gedge

Regional Policy Chair, and a teacher at Elim Christian College. On committee in Botany electorate.