Chambers and ACRN win in Hobson bodes well for future elections

Julie Chambers, Hobson Community Board Member-elect today thanked her team in Hobson for her victory in the Hobson by-election. The victory (7070 for Chambers vs 5273 for Caughey) was a considerable increase the majority of the votes between the top polling ACRN community board candidate and the top polling Team Auckland candidate in October 2001 (1786 votes compared to 249). This is despite the fact that Team Auckland joined with the left-wing City Vision ticket in order to try and defeat ACRN.

³I acknowledge Mrs Caughey¹s spirited campaign and thank her for the strong fight. However, it must be said that Team Auckland and City Vision ran a largely negative campaign without any proposals of their own. It was classic oppositional politics. Mrs Caughey, although a nice woman, was a part of this negativity. Their loss is must be disheartening leading up to the debate on this years draft annual plan,² said Mrs Chambers.

³We had a great team in Hobson, and I am thankful to all those who contributed to and assisted my election. I am especially pleased for our ticket, ACRN, as this bodes well for the AECT elections at the end of this year and the local government elections next year,¹ said Mrs Chambers.

³I would also like to note the support from Mayor John Banks, who was kind enough to give me his endorsement during the campaign. My victory is also a victory for him,² said Mrs Chambers.

³We have a lot of good news coming out of Auckland City at the moment ­ the city is paying back its debt, it is making big increases in infrastructure spending, and is concentrating on doing the basics properly. I am pleased to join this team,² said Mrs Chambers.

³Julie was a great candidate and she deserved to win,² said her campaign manager, Aaron Bhatnagar. ³She campaigned well ­ her door-knocking, media coverage and direct mail all contributed to her victory today. Now that she is elected to the board, I know she is keen to both continue the board¹s good work and introduce her own ideas and vision for her community.²

³The ACRN-led council has had to make some tough decisions in its first year. However, the city is now benefiting because of those decisions. Ratepayers have recognised this and are backing the fiscally prudent policies of our ticket,² said Mr Bhatnagar.

© Scoop Media