Phil Mauger proved that an independent candidate could be elected in the Burwood Ward on the first try, by ousting a long-serving leftist.
Now a staunch supporter of the aspiring mayor is trying to prevent Labor from regaining a key seat at the Christchurch City Council table.
Kelly Barber has maintained his ambitions in local government despite a heavy defeat in last year’s Coastal Ward by-election, where he was convinced he would be under the banner of Labor, placing a distant fifth behind Celeste Donovan, an independent Party background.
Barber’s second attempt at the Coastal Ward — he was previously third behind James Daniels and former Representative David East in 2019 when he ran on The People’s Choice/Labour ticket — convinced him to resemble Mauger’s independent profile that led to the election. from October.
“It was disappointing because I and a lot of people put in a lot of effort, but if you go ahead and do the same things, you get the same result,” he said.
“So I made some resolutions out of it. I thought the people on the coast clearly want a local and someone who is not politically affiliated.”
Barber will hear on October 8 whether enough voters from Burwood Ward share the same view. Barber faces an intriguing head-to-head battle with Michelle Lomax, a former president of The People’s Choice and a freshman representative of the Central Ward on the Waikura Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board.
While Barber has cut ties with Labor and The People’s Choice, Lomax has sworn her allegiance to the party, though the government’s popularity is waning.
Lomax, a licensed attorney and mother of six, decided to step up earlier this year and move to Dallington within the district boundaries.
Barber now portraying himself as an independent was not a concern. Nor was Labour’s poor result in the by-election nine months ago.
“Kelly had to do what’s right for him, there’s no shame in that,” Lomax said.
“I present my vision and ideas, and he presents his and it is up to the voters to decide. I appreciate that he is like me, he wants to be positive.”
Lomax stood for Labor in 2019 and the admirer of former Labor Prime Minister Norman Kirk was unaffected by unfavorable polls for Jacinda Ardern.
“I’m Labour, it’s all about values for me. I want people to know who I am, and on that basis will succeed or not,” she said.
Although living outside the Coastal Ward, Barber was encouraged to stand there for The People’s Choice and Labor in 2019 by then Burwood Ward councilor Glenn Livingstone, who was ultimately refused a fourth term by Mauger.
“The Coastal Department is where the work was, I was invited to participate there. I like a challenge and I thought it would be a great place to start.”
Barber now admits that he should have resisted the call.
“I don’t really consider myself political, I’ve never been a member of a political party or anything like that, but to get the support you essentially have to join,” he said.
The by-election, which was called when Daniels stepped down, was another cathartic experience.
“People said it would be much better to work under Labour. I didn’t really have a strong opinion about that… we went through that process and it failed miserably.”
Despite two setbacks, Barber, who is chairman of the Waitai Coastal-Burwood Community Board, wouldn’t stop seeking a senior position.
“I don’t give up easily,” said the Coast to Coast veteran, who had passed the endurance test 17 times.
“If I gave up every time the going got tough, I wouldn’t achieve anything. You learn much more from your failures than from your successes.”
While this campaign is still in its early stages, Barber said there was already an important distinction.
“This campaign is mine. The goat stops with me. Probably in 2019, but I think I have more control.”
- The elections will be held by letter. Voting starts on September 16 and closes on October 8 at 12 noon.