18th March 2009

Recall The Mayor?

The antics of North Shore Mayor, Andrew Williams, have drawn much media comment since his election in 2007.

His latest outburst - in which  he thanks various small towns and councils south of the Bombay Hills for paying for Auckland’s transport infrastructure - has certainly aroused the ire of, not only those towns themselves, but of many within the city he claims to serve well.

Such behaviour by the Mayor draws, in the eyes of many people, unfavourable attention to the city he leads.

Such a situation, if it happened in many local councils in America, could well lead to a demand for a recall election – the method authorised for the removal of elected officials before their term of office expires. [Remember the recall of Governor Gray Davis of California and the subsequent election of ‘terminator’ Arnold Schwarzenegger.

A sort of impeachment at the local levels of government.

Recalls are also used in Canada and Venezuela.

With the rapid approach of the report from the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, due at the end of the month, many minds are turning to the possibility of a Mayor of all Auckland – a Lord or a commoner.

There is also much speculation that a SuperCity council may have a four-year term rather the present local council term of three years.

Within such a framework perhaps a provision for recall would be a useful check on Mayoral misbehaviour of the type recently displayed by Mayor Williams – although he would not be the first mayor to raise the ire of his constituents.

Remember John Banks in his first term?

He paid the price at the next election – but look at him now. A much reformed civic leader.

However Mayor Williams may not pay the price of electoral defeat – his North Shore City may itself disappear in the wake of the Royal Commission.

In the meantime it to be hoped that his future utterances will be more carefully considered.

ends

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