Mayoral debate not short of fun and games
Two hours flew by as the audience at the mayoral debate at Wintec’s Atrium were treated to some of the candidates’ talents.
Hamilton mayoral candidates put on a show last night with fancy dress, singing, and (sometimes unintentional) stand up comedy.
The mayoral debate hosted by the Waikato Times and the Waikato Independent in Wintec’s Atrium pulled a decent crowd of 250 punters ranging from the young to the old.
The mayoral candidates present were Julie Hardaker, Dave Macpherson, Ewan Wilson, Jack Gielen, Ian Hanley, Tony Dixon and Arshad Chatha. Tim Wikiriwhi did not attend.
Jack Gielen had everyone’s attention with his white suit and rainbow feathered headdress.
“We need a clean sweep of the council, a new broom,” Gielen said as he swept the stage with a broom he had brought along to illustrate his point.
The less colourfully dressed Tony Dixon was up next with a very beige suit.
He said the city debt was appalling and the council needed fresh eyes and open minds.
Councillor Ewan Wilson sported a bright pink tie and spoke about rates, debt and water meters.
He said: “It is about getting the balance right between rates and debt.”
Ian Hanley, known by some for his motorcycle, wore a cowboy hat and a “vote Ian Hanley for Mayor” t-shirt tucked into black leather biker pants.
He spoke briefly about a council committee’s recent rejection of an art sculpture planned for the city.
“Art is the perfume of the soul,” he said.
And then he sang a short song about looking with the heart not the eyes. You can watch his performance here.
Last minute inclusion to the debate, Arshad Chatha, started his stand-up comedy routine by saying he was sponsored by the Waikato Times.
Waikato Times editor and host of the event, Jonathan Mackenzie, blinked and later hastened to clarify that his paper did not sponsor any candidate.
Turned out Mr Chatha was referring to a front page article relating to a previous conviction.
Chatha said “If you are satisfied by import cars you will be satisfied by me.”
Incumbent, mayor Julie Hardaker ,wore a pale pink suit and got straight to the point.
“I inherited a mess,” she said. “The city was a dead duck.”
But she then went on to note she had fixed the V8s, Claudelands, and brought great investment into the CBD during her time.
Last but not least the crowd heard from Councillor Dave Macpherson.
His bright yellow tie rivalled Cr Wilson’s pink.
Cr Macpherson said he has been known as a mongrel, a bull dog. He said when he gets his teeth into something he shakes it.
“I don’t always please bureaucrats, but I always get answers,” he said.
As question and answer time progressed, questions inevitably focused on current councillors.
Hanley said: “There are three people who are totally untarnished here this evening, don’t forget about us.”
Gielen muttered under his breath while candidates talked and Chatha continued to draw laughter from the crowd with his statements.
Dixon compared the council’s debt to the jar of Marmite his wife uses for her two pieces of toast each morning.
Hardaker said “We’ve got the backroom in order, it’s time to come out into the sunshine.”
And Chatha just hoped that in the next few days he would be on the second page of the Waikato Times, not the first.
