Kate Green / Stuff
Mayor Paul Eagle says he will not remove his billboard ads, even though he has been asked by the council.
Wellington’s mayoral candidate, Paul Eagle, says he will not remove his election signs from digital billboards in the city, despite being asked by the council.
Eagle says he will leave the signs until this weekend, as he planned.
The signs caused confusion online Monday, the day Eagle announced he was running for mayor. Twitter users questioned their legitimacy as they were seen outside the allowed election advertising period.
Warwick Lampp, Wellington City Council’s election official, said he had asked Eagle to remove the ads until the formal election rally began on August 27, but Eagle insisted he was within his rights.
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“The legal advice I have received confirms that the use of commercial billboards of this kind is completely legal,” he said in a statement.
“Today I have not received any information that is contrary to the opinion I have received, nor does it support the statement that Wellington City Council’s appointed electoral officer has the right to demand from any people who challenge the mayor not to do what I, and others, do not. it did. “
Jerigo Rock Archer / Stuff
Paul Eagle announced his mayoral offer on Monday – and a day later he was found to have broken the rules.
“Other candidates for local bodies did the same thing before the formal election campaign that started on August 27.”
The council’s long-running election campaign policy has allowed candidates to place billboards for six weeks before any election, Lampp said – this year, between August 27 and October 7, the day before the election.
Lampp said the policy is designed to create a level playing field for candidates and is generally respected for many years. The council’s website says nameplates on private land should only be displayed between 27 August and 8 October.
But attorney Graeme Edgeler says this only applies to temporary corfu signs.
“I’m confident it’s legal,” Edgeler said. “As long as it’s a commercial billboard space – and Paul said it is, and it looks like it’s one in the picture.”
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