1998 Wellington City mayoral election
10 October 1998
Turnout56,925 (48.80%)
 
Candidate Mark Blumsky Stephanie Cook
Party Independent Alliance
Popular vote 33,586 12,693
Percentage 59.00 22.29
Mayor before election

Mark Blumsky

 Elected Mayor

Mark Blumsky

The 1998 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. In 1998, elections were held for the Mayor of Wellington plus other local government positions including 18 councillors. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

Background

The election saw incumbent Mayor Mark Blumsky re-elected with a greatly increased majority. However Blumsky did not gain a majority of support on the council with only seven of the "Wellington Alive" ticket elected. Wellington Alive were selection of right-leaning council candidates that were given public endorsement by Blumsky following the dissolution of the decades old Citizens' Association several years earlier.[1]

Councillor Jack Ruben initially declared to stand, but withdrew to support Stephanie Cook and avoid further splitting the left-wing vote.[2] Bryan Pepperell, another left leaning candidate stood as well. Cook and Pepperell were re-elected to the council, though Ruben lost his seat.

The 1998 election is the last mayoral election in Wellington's history to date where the successful candidate polled more than half the popular vote. It was also the first time since the 1933 election that the Labour Party did not field a mayoral candidate.

Mayoralty results

The following table gives the election results:

1998 Wellington mayoral election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Mark Blumsky 33,586 59.00 +14.64
Alliance Stephanie Cook 12,693 22.29
Independent Bryan Pepperell 7,327 12.87 +12.22
Independent Hugh Baker-Boyd 1,366 2.39
Independent Rama Ramanathan 1,357 2.38
Independent Robert Te Whare 596 1.04
Majority 20,893 36.70 +11.96
Turnout 56,925 48.80 -2.98

Ward results

Candidates were also elected from wards to the Wellington City Council.[3]

Party/ticketCouncillors
Wellington Alive 7
Labour 3
Greens 2
Alliance 1
Independent 5

References

  1. ↑ Zatorski, Lidia (12 October 1998). "Blumsky romps in, but voters clip council wings". The Evening Post. p. 6.
  2. ↑ "Cook seeks mayor's job, Ruben ends bid". The Evening Post. 28 August 1998. p. 3.
  3. 1 2 "How You Voted". The Evening Post. 12 October 1998. p. 6.


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