Authorised by John Leggett, 29 Percy Street, Blenheim

The Marlborough Express has tonight (18 September 2016) reported on a political smear campaign via Whale Oil that has deliberately targeted John Leggett’s mayoral campaign for Marlborough and has been timed with the release of voting papers for the 2016 local body elections. His response to this activity follows:

Reaction to dirty politics smear campaign

MEDIA STATEMENT

18 September 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mayoral candidate John Leggett says Marlburians deserve to be treated with respect – not gutter politics.

“I take my role on Council seriously and I expect every other Councillor and Mayoral candidate to do so as well. If they can’t, then they shouldn’t be on Council, and they shouldn’t even consider standing for Council.”

“We’re here to lead Marlborough forward – not to play stupid political games that are aimed at undermining their colleagues and democracy.”

“The person/people involved in the recording and release to Whale Oil and other media need to take a good hard look at their motives, honesty and integrity.

“We have a situation now where Councillors can’t wholeheartedly trust their colleagues. Their trust of a governance environment in which they can debate openly and without prejudice with their colleagues has been destroyed, for fear their conversations are being secretly recorded to be used against them in the future.”

“As Mayor I will be expecting all Councillors in the next Council to adhere to Council’s Code of Conduct – not just for good governance, but to earn the respect of their colleagues around the Council table.”

“There will be no room for this level of behaviour under my Mayoralty.”

Councillor Leggett isn’t speculating on who recorded or released the conversation, or whether Simon Lusk or Cameron Slater have been engaged by one or more Mayoral candidates. “Voters can make their own minds up on who was behind this. I don’t expect that to be difficult.”

/ends

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