Ratepayers are on the hook for
between $90,000 and $100,000 in by-election costs if
Lawrence Yule is elected to Parliament later in the year as
the National Party's Tukituki candidate or on the list. The
figures were revealed after the taxpayer group asked the
Council for its calculation of the anticipated costs of a
by-election.
Taxpayers' Union Executive
Director, Jordan Williams, says, “While no price can be
put on democracy, the figures put into perspective Mr Yule's
promise, when seeking to be re-elected last year as Mayor of
Hastings, not to make a tilt at Parliament. We think he
should have been upfront at the time, given the huge costs
that are now likely to fall on ratepayers.”
“With
sitting councillors likely to contest the Mayoralty, it
could be a double whammy. A second by-election would be
required to fill any vacant council seat.”
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