Latest news with #localElections
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Independent candidates file to run for North Jersey races in November. See list
Independent candidates have filed to run for local North Jersey seats up for grabs in the general election on Nov. 4. The June 10 primary election settled Democratic and Republican party-affiliated seats for the election, including the governor's race. Independent candidates were able to submit their petitions to run for office after the primary. Some races have already started to heat up, including in Wayne, between Democrat Donald Pavlak Jr., who won the contested primary, and Republican Mayor Christopher Vergano, who is in his fourth four-year term. The two will face more competition on Nov. 4, as Catherine Kazan, a former school board member, announced she'll also run for mayor as an independent candidate under the slogan "People over Party." Story continues below photo gallery. While Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli will face off for governor, here is a list of local independent candidates looking to win seats in November. Harrington Park Gregory J. Evanella: council. Diane G. Walker: council. Jeffrey P. Brockman: council, one-year unexpired term. Norwood Heather M. Garcia: council. Oakland William J. Elliert: council. Matthew J. Dumpert: council. Washington Township Michael DeSena: mayor. Marc Moschella: council. Desserie Morgan: council. Story continues below photo gallery. Wayne Catherine Kazan: mayor. Katherine McEwan: council at large. Joyce Duncan: council at large. Suzanne Pudup: council at large. Pompton Lakes: Jennifer Polidori: council. Patrick J. Quinn III: council. Dover Jose Pagan: Ward 1 council. Kinnelon Gary Colombo: council. Randall White: council. Morristown Andrea Lekberg: mayor. Netcong Michele A. Franchi-Ruocco: council. This article originally appeared on See independent candidates list for North Jersey November elections
The Guardian
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Reform puts teenagers in charge of vital public services
Reform UK's local election wins have seen teenagers left in charge of vital public services, including a 19-year-old who is overseeing children and family services while still at university. Two months on from the elections in which Nigel Farage's party took overall control of 10 councils, concerns have been raised about the experience of candidates who have been appointed to roles with wide-ranging responsibility. At Leicestershire county council, Reform councillor Charles Pugsley, 19, has been made the cabinet member for children and family services. Pugsley's elevation has caused particular concern, as has that of Joseph Boam, a 22-year-old who has been made the deputy council leader and handed the adult social care portfolio, despite having previously expressed the view that 'depression isn't real'. Both are defenders of a Reform policy that would block the council from flying community emblems such as the Pride and disabled people's flags over council property. More than 100 social workers and other employees at the council have now signed a letter condemning the policy, which they allege 'promotes exclusion and marginalisation'. According to the anti-extremism campaign group, Hope Not Hate, an account appearing to belong to Boam had frequently retweeted and posted apparent praise for the misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate from a now deleted social media account. Another claim on the same account that 'depression isn't real' sparked concern among fellow councillors who have written to Reform's leader at Leicestershire. Boam has reportedly dismissed the allegation as 'fake news'. News of their appointment follow that of George Finch, 18, who has become the interim leader of the neighbouring Warwickshire county council just a year after completing his A-levels. Their relative lack of experience has caused unease across the political divide. Deborah Taylor, a Conservative councillor and leader of the opposition who was the previous cabinet member for children and families in Leicestershire, questioned their qualifications to hold roles overseeing services that account for more than 70% of the council's £616m budget. 'I am a huge champion of young people and young councillors but what really concerns me is that new young councillors should be nurtured rather than being thrown in at the deep end to what can be a quite full-on role where there is exposure to some real trauma and difficult decisions,' she said. 'Rather than age, it's about political and life experience, whether that's as someone has worked or even as a parent with knowledge of household pressures.' The concerns were echoed by social workers at the council. 'There is some confidence that much of what is being delivered can't be changed because it is statutory and underpinned by legislation. But there are areas were resources are being allocated on a 'spend to save' basis, such as early interventions for families who may, for example, have had multiple removals of children,' said one. 'It's an area where that spending has really paid off and there would be great concern about that being tinkered with or even cut.' Julia Ross, chair of the British Association of Social Workers, said: 'Lead members for children's and adults' social services in local authorities are very important roles that carry the responsibility of handling hundreds of millions of pounds. 'While we recognise and value the fresh perspectives that youth often brings, ideally, candidates should have experience in administrating such complex departments, as well as a working knowledge of their statutory duty to support, what are often, the most vulnerable people in our society.' Pugsley and Boam have come into their roles as Reform has pledged to deliver Elon Musk-style 'Doge' efficiency savings at councils even though many services have been cut to the bone over recent years. Neither responded to invitations to comment although they have used their X accounts to answer critics. 'Some say I'm young. I say that's exactly what this role needs. I understand the challenges young people face today because I've been there. Now I'm making sure young voices are heard,' Pugsley tweeted. But this was questioned. Naomi Bottomley, a Green councillor, said: 'I know that Charles Pugsley has alluded to the idea that he knows more about what children need because he is young. But he also went to a private school and is a landlord, so I'm not sure he has quite the same experience as many vulnerable young people.' Pugsley, a computer science student at Nottingham University, is registered at Companies House as a director of two companies that list their business as the letting or operating of real estate. He and Boam, along with Finch in Warwickshire, also reflect a drive by Nigel Farage to leverage support among gen Z voters, with the party's popularity surging among 18- to 24-year-old men. Preet Gill, a Birmingham Labour MP who has voiced concern about Finch's role as leader at Warwickshire, said that the appointments indicated how Reform would approach government. 'It's a carbon copy of the way in which Farage operates. They have made a lot of noise from performance politics and from being disruptive, rather than actually saying or doing anything of substance when it comes to delivery, or knowing how to deliver adult social care or children's services.'
RNZ News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
The Panel with Sally Wenley and Simon Wilson Part 1
Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Sally Wenley and Simon Wilson. With candidate nominations open today for local body elections, the Panel hears from former Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDoull about how local councils really work. They also talk to Nelson Victory Primary principal Dan George about how an after school programme for former refugees and migrants has had it's funding pulled by the Ministry of Education after 20 years. Photo: LDR / Moana Ellis
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Far North Mayor calls on New Zealanders to vote for Māori wards in October
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania (fourth from left) and Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford to his right, at the council's 2022 pōwhiri at Waitangi for the incoming 2022-2025 council, including its first-time Māori ward politicians (from left)Babe Kapa, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Tāmati Rākena and Penetaui Kleskovic. Photo: LDR / NZME Far North Mayor Moko Tepania is calling on all New Zealanders to vote to keep Māori wards at the October local elections polling. On 11 October polling will close at 42 councils on whether to continue with Māori wards. Earlier polls have typically resulted in councils' Māori ward plans being canned. But the Far North mayor has predicted that will change, because in places like his district people have had a chance to see their Māori wards in action. Tepania predicts Far Northerners will poll in favour of keeping Far North District Council (FNDC)'s Ngā Tai o Tokerau Maori ward and Northland Regional Council (NRC)'s Te Raki Māori constituency. "I am optimistic that because of (Te Tai Tokerau's) Waitangi, the home of the nation where He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni /Declaration of Independence of New Zealand and Te Tiriti o Waitangi were signed, there'll be a positive vote by electors to keep our Māori ward. "If anywhere in New Zealand can do it, we can," Tepania said. Almost 52 percent of people in the Far North identify as Māori, one of New Zealand's highest percentages. Tepania, who is Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)'s Northland board member, said he did not agree with the requirement for his council to have to poll electors about its Māori ward. The council in September said it was not a foregone conclusion polling would happen after it chose to recommit to its Māori ward. FNDC first polled its electors on setting up a Māori ward during a 2015 representation review. Two-thirds of electors voted against this, one-third for. The binding poll precluded the establishment of a Māori ward in the following two elections - 2016 and 2019. Tepania said that rejection was because Far Northerners had not had a chance to see a Māori ward in action. That had changed with Ngā Tai o Tokerau starting life three years ago. The council's first term Māori ward had surpassed expectations. He claimed there were many achievements that had been made - for all constituents - with the presence of the ward and its four councillors. Māori ward councillors' connections into the community had helped make significant infrastructure improvements for all in the Far North, he said. Examples of this included working towards resolving longstanding Kaitāia Airport land ownership issues. Māori ward Cr Hilda Halkyard-Harawira had received an award from LGNZ's Te Maruata Māori council politicians' group for her mahi including the airport where she championed the return of the land the airport sits on to Ngāi Takoto and Te Pātu, and government funding. She'd also had a key role in working towards a more environmentally and culturally sustainable solution to address growing local community concerns over wastewater discharging into Hokianga Harbour, Tepania said. Māori ward Cr Tāmati Rākena had played a key role in the North Hokianga roading working group, successfully dealing with the Panguru and Motuti slips. The group was formally set up in 2024 between the council and mana whenua to address local roading issues. Northland Māori ward politicians currently make up 20 percent of the region's elected representatives. Tepania said Māori wards went towards council meeting its requirements to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi under the Local Government Act. Polling outcomes will take effect from the 2028 local elections, with the decision being binding for the 2028 and 2031 elections. Northlanders across Far North District Council (FNDC), Whangārei District Council (WDC) and Northland Regional Council (NRC) are among electors at 42 councils who will get to have their say in the binding poll with the following words: "I vote to keep the Māori ward / constituency" "I vote to remove the Māori ward / constituency" FNDC's Cr Kapa said Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori ward had given Māori a voice they'd not had previously. He said it offered a path inside the council chamber for those who had sat outside. And it brought new opportunity for Māori outside traditional leadership roles to take part. He said it was important all local election voters in the Far North voted and also had their polling say in October. Kapa said the council was now working more closely with Northland iwi as a result of the new electoral areas. Its Te Pae o Uta policy underpinning how the council included Te Ao Māori in its operations had boosted responsiveness to the local community. Te Kahu o Taonui (Northland Iwi Chairs Forum) member Pita Tipene co-chaired the council's Te Kauaka Māori committee. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Local body election nominations open - Here's how to become a candidate
The nomination period for this year's local body elections opens Friday 4 July and runs until 1 August. Photo: RNZ / Isra'a Emhail Explainer - Have you ever wanted to stand for local office? Now is your chance, as the nomination period for this year's local body elections opens Friday. But how do you stand, and how does the job work? Here's what you need to know. Local elections are held for city, district and regional council seats, as well as some local boards, licensing trusts and other organisations. They are held every three years by postal vote. These aren't the elections that will determine control of Parliament and the next government - those won't happen until 2026. Susan Freeman-Greene, left, heads up Local Government New Zealand. Photo: RNZ / Krystal Gibbens A lot. Susan Freeman-Greene is the chief executive of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), a membership body that advocates for and supports local government. "This year we will have 1465 seats available across 66 councils - Tauranga City Council being the exception - which includes 66 mayoral seats and 683 community board seats," she said. "There will also be 127 seats up for election across the 11 regional councils." Nominations open Friday 4 July and you just need to complete an official nomination form and send it to your local council's electoral officer before midday on 1 August. You've got to be nominated by two people - can't nominate yourself, sorry - and the people who nominate you must be over 18 and enrolled to vote in the area you plan to stand in. Candidates must pay a $200 deposit, which can sometimes be refunded depending on the election results. You need to be on the electoral roll and have lived at your current address for at least a month. You do not need to live in the area in which you wish to stand. Just in case you were wondering, you also can't run if you happen to be in prison for a term of three years or more. Lastly, you must be a New Zealand citizen. Elected members do receive salaries, which vary depending on the size of each council. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, who is standing for a second term, receives an annual salary of about $300,000, while councillors in rural regions can earn as little as around $20,000. LGNZ has also put together a candidates guide filled with tips on the process. "At the 2022 local elections we had 3119 people standing across 1607 seats across the country," Freeman-Greene said. "Obviously we'd like to have more candidates standing, and it's just as much about the quality of the candidates as it is the quantity. "We know that some rural and provincial councils in particular can struggle to attract candidates; people with the right skills for the role, who are also able to fully commit themselves to a demanding position, are sometimes in short supply." Nelson Deputy mayor Rohan O'Neill-Stevens was first elected to office at just 19. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee Two local body politicians who are retiring this year shared their experiences of the job. Rohan O'Neill-Stevens is the deputy mayor of Nelson and was first elected to the council at age 19. He is stepping down this year at the venerable age of 24. "Walk into every conversation and every room with the intention of learning something," he advises future office-holders. "Entering politics at a young age inherently brings a level of self-doubt, a knowledge that you don't have all the answers, and that can be turned into an incredibly strong asset if you harness it." Meanwhile, former primary school principal Malcolm Dixon is stepping down after 12 years on the Hastings District Council. He said it is important candidates know the job isn't just going to the occasional meeting. "There is a lot more to being a councillor than just attending meetings," he said. "You need to be able to read, absorb and analyse a huge amount of reading material." Dixon said listening to constituents is also important. "You have been elected to serve those who elected you, the ratepayer, to be successful you must keep in touch with them." Freeman-Greene said standing for office "requires someone who is both willing and able to listen to a range of community views, and be able to make the tough decisions when required". She also said that at the end of the day, you're just one vote around the table. "So the role is as much about working together as a team, finding compromise and being able to look at different points of view, as it is about making decisions." "Being a successful candidate involves promoting yourself, your vision, and your position on issues that matter," LGNZ's guide states. "One of the most common reasons people don't vote is because they don't know who the candidates are or what they stand for." Tips include door-knocking, meeting the public and doing media interviews, holding huis and using your own personal contacts to get the word out. Freeman-Greene said social media can be a valuable tool, especially in reaching younger audiences. "Social media gives candidates the ability to potentially reach a massive, targeted audience with their campaign messaging, often in a cost-effective way." The Local Electoral Act 2001 sets out how much you can spend on campaigns, which LGNZ says is based on population in your area, ranging from just $3500 for a council population under 5000 to up to $100,000 if your council population is more than 1 million people. Most elections use the 'First Past the Post' system (FPP) where the candidate with the most votes wins, but in 2022, 15 councils used the Single Transferable Voting system (STV) where voters rank candidates in order of preference. Election hoardings line Auckland streets at the 2022 election. Photo: The Detail/Sarah Robson If the number of candidates is less than the number of available positions, then the candidates who did get nominated are declared elected unopposed, Freeman-Greene said. "The remaining vacancies (the ones with no candidates) are treated as extraordinary vacancies; the council or local authority must then hold a by-election to fill those vacant seats as soon as practicable after the election. "If there are zero candidates for a position, then no one is elected to that role, and the position is left vacant. The local authority must then hold a by-election to try again to fill the position." In 2022, women made up 38 percent of candidates, according to the Department of Internal Affairs . Many also tend to be older, but Nelson's O'Neill-Stevens, as one of the youngest candidates to hold office, said young people are starting to see themselves as possible politicians too. "For generations local government has been dominated by a relatively un-diverse representation, where young people haven't seen themselves reflected in their elected members, and when you can't see people like you in a space, it's hard to picture it as a place where you belong. "In my first term I was the youngest elected member by nearly 30 years, so there was a very real sense of being the odd one out, because I was." That soon changed, he said. "I was very clear that I wasn't there to simply be a youth voice on issues, but as an unapologetically progressive representative for our community and I quickly found respect from colleagues as a diligent and effective councillor." While TikToks, Instagram posts and YouTube may be useful in getting your name out, it can also be difficult to run in the world of online trolls and threats - and of course your old posts could come back to haunt you. "Social media also leaves candidates open to abuse and harassment; a growing trend in the political space," Freeman-Greene said. "The rise of fringe groups, anonymity of online forums and polarising coverage is feeding increasing abuse of people elected to both central and local government." LGNZ launched a "how to stay safe" guide earlier this year to help elected officials navigate online harm. "One tip: we recommend to candidates they create new social media accounts for their local campaign, instead of using their existing personal accounts - we also advise their personal accounts are locked from public view," Freeman-Greene said. "This helps protect the candidate's privacy and limits unwanted interactions with anyone who has bad intentions." Here's the timeline: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
